Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Kissing And Cross Contamination

PennyH

By PennyH
in Coping with Celiac Disease

Recommended Posts

PennyH Newbie
PennyH
Posted

Kissing can gluten us?! I'n a newbie and just learning new things. My niece had been very sick after years of gluten-free relief. After much research, and then self testing, she figured out that when she kissed her boyfriend after he ate gluten the cross contamination would make her sick. I've also read this on the internet. This is scary news. I'm dating - how do I protect myself and communicate this without sounding like a crazy person? Bring my date a tooth brush with gluten free toothpaste??? Anyone else dealing with this? This gets overwhelming, I keep finding out more dangers. I'm new to this and I find I can only research a little bit each night without getting anxious.... friendly support out there?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


eatmeat4good Enthusiast
eatmeat4good
Posted

Welcome!

It's overwhelming at first to read and try to absorb all the intricacies of cross contamination and to know where traces of gluten can be found. But yes, kissing is a source of gluten. But the solution is simple. Brushing well. If you are dating it does take the spontaneity out of the first kiss. But I call it the Kiss of Death to kiss someone who ate gluten. In the beginning I wasn't sure that would be true? Could be true? Is it true for me? Well, yes, it is true. So now I have to have the "celiac talk" before the first kiss. But it's way better than being sick for a week.

Don't worry. There are people who are married to gluten eater's who manage quite well. Their spouses know not to kiss until they brush. It's probably a little harder when you are single and on a new date. But gluten is a word most people have at least heard of. So yeah, bring an extra toothbrush for them...why not?

It's kind of hard to wrap your brain around all the changes you have to make. But even kissing can be managed.

dilettantesteph Collaborator
dilettantesteph
Posted

It's possible that it won't be a problem for you. Our individual levels of sensitivity vary.

Adalaide Mentor
Adalaide
Posted

This is just my opinion, but if you start carrying around a toothbrush with you to first dates, you'll never have a second date. That seems just a little overboard to me. What are you supposed to do? Hand someone a toothbrush after the meal and be like "hey, just in case you decide to kiss me..." At the same time though, you do have to protect yourself and celiac isn't some sort of deep dark secret you should be hiding. You'll probably end up discussing it at some point early on with the choosing of a restaurant or some such. If a first date has gone well and he is leaning in you can always mention the bread, offer a cheek and ask for a raincheck. Heck, if you find yourself a true sweetie maybe you'll find him eating gluten free for the evening and he can plant one right one you.

PennyH Newbie
PennyH
Posted
  • Author

This is just my opinion, but if you start carrying around a toothbrush with you to first dates, you'll never have a second date. That seems just a little overboard to me. What are you supposed to do? Hand someone a toothbrush after the meal and be like "hey, just in case you decide to kiss me..." At the same time though, you do have to protect yourself and celiac isn't some sort of deep dark secret you should be hiding. You'll probably end up discussing it at some point early on with the choosing of a restaurant or some such. If a first date has gone well and he is leaning in you can always mention the bread, offer a cheek and ask for a raincheck. Heck, if you find yourself a true sweetie maybe you'll find him eating gluten free for the evening and he can plant one right one you.

Thank you for the support. This is tricky. I'm a mature woman finding myself back out in the dating world so there is a lot to discuss on first dates!

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

In my humble opinion, discussing the fact that you have celiac should be approached almost right away with a new person in your life and with a sense of humor. (It's not like you have leprosy or a communicable disease that may turn him off.)

But, flat out, a kiss from someone who has consumed gluten? well, let's get real here---if it involves swapping spit--well, yes, it is a problem. Without getting too "icky"--there is mucosa in your mouth lining and swallowing ...etc, etc.

So yeah, you WILL have to address it at some point.

(BTW, it is one of the MANY reasons why my hubs --voluntarily--went gluten-free with me. thank heavens. :lol: )

dilettantesteph Collaborator
dilettantesteph
Posted

The president of our local celiac support group is the only celiac in her family. She cooks with flour, kisses her kids and husband, and all her tests are negative.

I seem to have problems with my husbands kisses even when he eats gluten free processed foods. I need to stick to unprocessed foods only.

This isn't a one size fits all disease, as Irishheart has said. She may know your sensitivity from other posts.

I just thought that it would be a good idea to mention that not every celiac has problems with this.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


dani nero Community Regular
dani nero
Posted

There is nothing difficult about explaining Celiac if the guy you are dating is smart, caring and open-minded

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

This isn't a one size fits all disease, as Irishheart has said.

True, true!

And since I do not undulge in heavy petting with anyone but my gluten-free hubs, I cannot say whether it would affect me or not. :lol:

( I, personally, would never bake with wheat flour for someone else in my kitchen ever again. (not after what I've been through) With all we know about CC, I am surprised any celiac would, but to each his/her own.)

All I know is ....several well-respected veterans on here report glutenings from kissing spouses who had just consumed a beer or gluteny foods, so I think it is worth considering when being careful about CC.

Open Original Shared Link

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

.... if the guy you are dating is smart, caring and open-minded

If you find one of those, you have hit the jackpot. :)

icm Apprentice
icm
Posted

I don' think the term 'celiac' needs emphasis. There are lots of food intolerances and allergies out there. Just tell your partner that you can't eat gluten.

icm Apprentice
icm
Posted

Is it just me or are girls generally more understanding than guys?

dani nero Community Regular
dani nero
Posted

Is it just me or are girls generally more understanding than guys?

Nah... gals can be as equally stubborn

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

I don' think the term 'celiac' needs emphasis. There are lots of food intolerances and allergies out there. Just tell your partner that you can't eat gluten.

It's not about eating gluten. It's the issue of CC from a kiss.

Celiac is nothing to be ashamed of.

Why not be up front about it?

dani nero Community Regular
dani nero
Posted

It is hard to explain to people who never heard of Celiac the concept it cc.. it is always far fetched that an atom of gluten has an effect.

icm Apprentice
icm
Posted

Yes I never thought about the cc issues associated with a kiss. I'll have to rethink how I go about things then too.

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

It is hard to explain to people who never heard of Celiac the concept it cc.. it is always far fetched that an atom of gluten has an effect.

It is a strange concept to understand indeed. It was strange at first for ME to wrap my brain around the fact that this one food protein had been killing me and turning me into an invalid for years. But, it is what it is.

Anyone with a brain can grasp it ---if it is explained the right way.

Does it have to be dinner conversation? No, not right away.

But, if you are planning to have a relationship with someone past a first date, you might as well tell the truth and see how he/she reacts.

As many others have pointed out on here (I believe it was my wise friend, SKYLARK who said it first?)...it's a "jerkometer" :) and if the person does not accept you as you are---then, bye bye.

dani nero Community Regular
dani nero
Posted

As many others have pointed out on here (I believe it was my wise friend, SKYLARK who said it first?)...it's a "jerkometer" :) and if the person does not accept you as you are---then, bye bye.

:) :) :)

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

:) :) :)

:wub::lol: :lol: :wub:

eatmeat4good Enthusiast
eatmeat4good
Posted

If the issue is CC, then the description would have to be a bit more than just I don't eat gluten.

Not eating gluten is a personal choice then and it wouldn't effect whether or not someone else eats gluten or brushes their teeth between eating and kissing. Being Celiac means that trace gluten is much more serious than just not eating gluteny foods just because one prefers not to. It's all about protecting yourself. I use humor and relate it to having to ask a partner to use a condom...only they don't make condoms for kissing...so you have to brush your teeth for me if you wanna kiss me.

IrishHeart Veteran
IrishHeart
Posted

.....only they don't make condoms for kissing...so you have to brush your teeth for me if you wanna kiss me.

and, there it is!! amen, sistah! :lol:

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,680
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    ashley94261
    Newest Member
    ashley94261
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Rejoicephd
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Rejoicephd · Posted

      That and my nutritionist also said that drinking cider is one of the worst drink choices for me, given that I have candida overgrowth.  She said the combination of the alcohol and sugar would be very likely to worsen my candida problem.  She suggested that if I drink, I go for clear vodka, either neat or with a splash of cranberry.   So in summary, I am giving ciders a rest.  Whether it's a gluten risk or sugars and yeast overgrowth, its just not worth it.
    • Inkie
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Inkie · Posted

      Thank you for the information ill will definitely bring it into practice .
    • Scott Adams
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      While plain, pure tea leaves (black, green, or white) are naturally gluten-free, the issue often lies not with the tea itself but with other ingredients or processing. Many flavored teas use barley malt or other gluten-containing grains as a flavoring agent, which would be clearly listed on the ingredient label. Cross-contamination is another possibility, either in the facility where the tea is processed or, surprisingly, from the tea bag material itself—some tea bags are sealed with a wheat-based glue. Furthermore, it's important to consider that your reaction could be to other substances in tea, such as high levels of tannins, which can be hard on the stomach, or to natural histamines or other compounds that can cause a non-celiac immune response. The best way to investigate is to carefully read labels for hidden ingredients, try switching to a certified gluten-free tea brand that uses whole leaf or pyramid-style bags, and see if the reaction persists.
    • Scott Adams
      Inconclusive results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is a challenging and confusing situation. The combination of a positive EMA—which is a highly specific marker rarely yielding false positives—alongside strongly elevated TTG on two separate occasions, years apart, is profoundly suggestive of celiac disease, even in the absence of biopsy damage. This pattern strongly aligns with what is known as "potential celiac disease," where the immune system is clearly activated, but intestinal damage has not yet become visible under the microscope. Your concern about the long-term risk of continued gluten consumption is valid, especially given your family's experience with the consequences of delayed diagnosis. Since your daughter is now at an age where her buy-in is essential for a gluten-free lifestyle, obtaining a definitive answer is crucial for her long-term adherence and health. Given that she is asymptomatic yet serologically positive, a third biopsy now, after a proper 12-week challenge, offers the best chance to capture any microscopic damage that may have developed, providing the concrete evidence needed to justify the dietary change. This isn't about wanting her to have celiac; it's about wanting to prevent the insidious damage that can occur while waiting for symptoms to appear, and ultimately giving her the unambiguous "why" she needs to accept and commit to the necessary treatment. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
    • Scott Adams
      Medication

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Welcome to the community! Generally, for a gluten challenge before celiac disease blood tests, Tylenol (acetaminophen) is considered safe and should not interfere with your antibody results. The medications you typically need to avoid are those like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) that can cause intestinal irritation, which could potentially complicate the interpretation of an endoscopy if you were to have one. However, it is absolutely crucial that you confirm this with either your gastroenterologist or your surgeon before your procedure. They know the specifics of your case and can give you the definitive green light, ensuring your surgery is comfortable and your celiac testing remains accurate. Best of luck with your surgery tomorrow
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.