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A dental dam (sometimes called an oral dam) is a piece of latex or polyurethane that can be used as barrier protection during oral sex. Using a dental dam may reduce your risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, and HPV (human papillomavirus).

As the name suggests, dental dams are used in dentistry as well, and protect patients from bacteria during dental procedures.

Dental dams should be used whenever there is mouth-to-genital contact.

Dental dams are simple to use.

Remove the sheet from the packaging and inspect it to make sure there are no rips or tears.
Place the sheet so that it covers the area to be stimulated (usually the anus or a woman’s genitals). You or your partner may need to hold the dam in place.
Throw away the sheet when finished.

To use dental dams safely, remember to:

Use the dental dam only once. Do not flip it over and use it again.
Don’t stretch the dental dam.
If the dam breaks during sexual activity, stop and get a new one before continuing.
Some people use a lubricant to help keep the dam in place. If you use a lubricant, make sure it is water- or silicon-based. Oil-based lubricants can cause dams to break.