People can help prevent the spread of herpes by avoiding certain types of contact during an outbreak. For example, when a person has a herpes outbreak — during which they will have noticeable symptoms — they should avoid: kissing, and any other form of oral contact. engaging in oral sex.

How likely is it to get herpes from kissing?

Nope. Full-on tongue action, a peck on the cheek, and every other kind of kiss in between can spread herpes. There isnt any research showing that one type of kiss is riskier than another when it comes to oral herpes risk.

Is oral herpes always contagious?

Most oral and genital herpes infections are asymptomatic. Symptoms of herpes include painful blisters or ulcers at the site of infection. Herpes infections are most contagious when symptoms are present but can still be transmitted to others in the absence of symptoms.

Can you kiss someone with herpes and not get it?

Herpes is transmitted through human-to-human contact, usually through kissing or sex. As long as there is skin contact, a person with herpes can infect another person, even when they are not exhibiting any symptoms.

What happens if you kiss someone with mouth herpes?

Like all forms of the herpes simplex virus, cold sores are highly contagious. Kissing and cold sores is risky business, because if you kiss someone while you have one or more cold sores, theres a significant risk of the other person being exposed to and infected by the virus.