Like condoms, choosing a dental dam that’s right for you can come with as much experimentation as you are interested in. Below is a list of some types of dental dams, and a few points on why you might (or might not) choose them. If you are picking one for the first time we recommend trying out the one that you gravitate to, or the one that makes sense for you and your partner, and seeing how it goes!

Classic Dental Dams

• These latex dental dams come in a variety of shapes, so choose one that makes sense for you and your partner’s body.
• They can have different price points and can be found at many drug stores, sex shops, can be ordered online or found in many sexual health centres (where they are often free).
• They often come in blue or opaque plastic, but you can explore different colours online.

Ultra-thin Dental Dams

• These dental dams are made of a thinner material.
• They feel different, and so can be used to create a different sensation for both the person giving and receiving oral sex.
• They are still a great option for preventing transmission of STIs.

Flavoured Dental Dams

• It can be fun to play around with different flavours for the person giving oral sex.
• You can find flavoured dental dams in all sorts of flavours like strawberry, grape, banana, vanilla, and much more!
• These can be a fun way to engage your sense of taste during sex.

Non-latex Dental Dams

• For folks with latex allergies there are still plenty of non-latex options out there for you
• These are commonly made with polyurethane or sometimes silicone.

DIY Dental Dams

• Dental Dams can sometimes be harder to find than condoms, but luckily you can make a great dental dam from a rubber glove or condom.

Dysphoria and Dental Dams:
Barrier protection is complicated for lots of people especially those who experience genital dysphoria. There are some tips and tricks on how to use protection to alleviate these uncomfortable feelings. Simply using dental dams can help ease gender dysphoria during sex for some folks. By laying out this barrier on the area some can dissociate the zone from the rest of the body giving them less things to think about. If you find the texture of the anus, labia or discharge to be a barrier to your enjoyment, this can also be a way to ease that discomfort. If someone has some bottom growth from testosterone, the area can be very sensitive as well so using a dental dam may be helpful.. Alleviating dysphoria is different for everyone, and not every method will work for you. You can play around with different methods of minimizing dysphoria during sex, and it can be helpful to talk about known triggers with sexual partners beforehand. In this section we lay out lots of barrier protection and contraception methods, so you can take a look and see methods other than using dental dams might feel better to you.

You can learn more about where we got this information from at: HSHC, Cleveland Clinic, Tashmed
*disclaimer: we do not necessarily endorse all of the information, content, or language used in these references.