A member asked:

I have streptococcus viridans in my mouth. i'm pregnant and due any day now. can i kiss my baby when he's born with this bacteria in my mouth?

7 doctors weighed in across 3 answers

No problem: Strep viridans is considered a "commensal organism" which means it is a normal colonizer in our mouths. It is not a pathogen in it's normal location, and it only becomes a problem when people who have heart valve problems have dental work. Kiss your baby to your heart's content! and congratulations :).

Answered 8/21/2016

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Dr. Bruce J. Stringer answered

Specializes in Radiology

Yes: The human mouth contains many different kinds of bacteria. When i was in med school one of the things we did was to do a throat culture on ourselves. Mine grew out staph aureus. I wasn't ill at the time and wasn't infecting other people. Strep viridans is a common bug associated with infections around the teeth. If you're worried you can always use an antiseptic mouthwash.

Answered 8/21/2016

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Dr. Robert Devin answered

Specializes in Dentistry

Baby Kissing: Your baby needs a lot of kissing. Do it. If your are breast feeding for 6 months or more, you are protecting your baby more than you will ever know. Do it. As a hospital trained dds , i advise to always clean your baby's mouth after every feeding with a warm moist wash cloth. It trains the baby to expect to clean their mouth after every meal. Ask more again when teeth come in. Best to you both.

Answered 8/21/2016

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