The thought of lice didn't faze me in kindergarten when I grabbed my crush and kissed him during recess (although I was a little disappointed when he started crying and ran angrily to the water fountain). Thankfully, my kissing skills and my understanding of consent have both improved since then, and it turns out that even if bacteria do exist, they can actually be good for your health.

Seriously: kissing has some very real, science-backed benefits that you can read about below.

1. Kissing is good for your teeth

as long as you are both reasonably hygienic
According to Sivan Finkel, a cosmetic dentist in New York, kissing increases saliva production, which helps our teeth remove harmful bacteria. "The extra saliva helps remineralize the teeth and protect them from acid attack," he says.

In fact, some experts say the mineral ions in saliva can also promote the repair of minor damage to tooth enamel—but oral hygiene is essential here too. "Before exchanging saliva, check each other's breath, and if it passes the smell test, you're good to go," says Dr. Finkel.

2. Kissing can boost your immune system

More than 700 species of bacteria have been found in the human mouth, but no two people have exactly the same composition of oral bacteria. Exchanging saliva with someone can therefore introduce your body to new "foreign" bacteria—which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

"Trillions of microorganisms live on or in us, and collectively, they're known as the microbiome," says Shilpa Ravella, a gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Ravella cites a recent Dutch study that found that when we kiss for longer than 10 seconds, some 80 million bacteria are transferred between us and our partner. This can introduce new, and sometimes beneficial, bacteria into our mouths. "Many studies have shown that a diverse bacterial population is associated with good health. A diverse microbiome can help regulate the immune system and protect against harmful germs."

We prefer that over a booster shot any day.

3. Kissing can reduce anxiety

One of the most important health benefits of kissing, from a chemical standpoint, is its ability to release the hormone oxytocin, also known as the "love hormone," according to Stephanie Hartselle, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry at Brown University. She cites kissing's ability to induce feelings of calm, relaxation, and connection in people. Because the hormone is released during foreplay, orgasm, and, yes, kissing, "it has been shown to be as powerful as meditation and many anti-anxiety medications in inducing feelings of calm and contentment," says Dr. Hartselle.

Research has also shown that kissing can lower cortisol levels, a chemical associated with stress.

4. Kissing can reduce allergic reactions

Did you know that kissing can help relieve itchy symptoms associated with nasal or skin allergies?

"Normally, when you have an allergy, your body overreacts by producing IgE, an antibody against a specific allergen," says Srini Pillay, a physician and psychiatrist at Harvard. "But in these groups, the amount of this antibody decreased after kissing, which reduced the allergic reaction and symptoms."

5. Kissing can lower blood pressure

According to New York plastic surgeon Dr. Ryan Neinstein, our lips are made up of blood vessels that dilate during kissing. "This directs blood toward the face and away from the rest of the body," he says. "This reduces the workload on the heart, resulting in lower blood pressure."

And remember that fact about cortisol? The lower your cortisol levels, the lower your blood pressure. "The more you kiss, the faster your heart beats and the more blood flow, which ultimately lowers high blood pressure," says Dr. Neinstein.

6. Kissing can slow down signs of aging

Another reason to kiss as much as possible: the increased blood flow to the face can stimulate collagen production and contribute to anti-aging. "The increased blood flow increases the number of small blood vessels, which helps to better nourish the skin," says Dr. Neinstein.

It also stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, the substance that makes up beautiful skin.

"To move your lips, your whole face has to move with it, which increases elasticity," he adds. "Have you ever seen facial yoga or facial exercises? There are yogis, estheticians, and dermatologists who train women in facial exercises to stimulate collagen production and reduce the need for a facelift. Passionate kissing can also firm the skin, especially the lower half of the face."

7. Kissing is like a treadmill – for your face

While a "simple" kiss only burns one or two calories, French kissing uses all the muscles in your face and can burn up to 26 calories per minute.

"You have 43 muscles in your face and eight in your tongue," says Dr. Hartselle. "Kissing increases blood flow to those areas by dilating the blood vessels, and it's possible that the muscle training combined with blushing makes your facial muscles healthier and more vital during prolonged kissing."

8. It increases your libido

This may seem obvious, but Dr. Rachel Abrams, MD, integrative health expert, and author, points out that testosterone—the hormone responsible for libido in both women and men—is released in the saliva during prolonged kissing.

"One study found that men were more likely than women to initiate open-mouth kissing and kissing with tongue contact, and male saliva contains measurable amounts of the sex hormone testosterone, which can influence libido," says Dr. Abrams. "Testosterone also acts as an antidepressant and helps with mental focus."

Another fun fact: women who kiss other women also exchange testosterone, because we have it too. So whether your partner is male or female, you share hormones and pheromones.