Does it seem like male condoms are kind of the standard in available safer sex supplies? What about instances where you want to have protected oral-vaginal sex or oral-anal sex?
Dental dams are a great way to provide enough protection during oral sex to reduce risk of transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STI), but are still thin enough to let a lot of sensation come through.
If you have access to a male condom but not a dental dam for oral sex—fear not! In just a few steps, you can very easily transform a male condom into a dental dam.
Here’s how:
1. Start off with a condom.
The first step in is finding a non-lubricated or flavored lubricated condom (the taste of unflavored lube can be pretty unpleasant). Upon request, Campus Counseling and Wellness provides free safer sex supplies to residence halls, so in many cases, you may have condoms available to you through your residence hall. If not, you can always stop by Counseling and Wellness for free safer sex supplies. There are a variety of baskets and bowls with safer sex supplies around Campus Health Services. You can also call the Sexual Wellness Specialists (formerly CHECS) (919-966-3658) to request some for free.
2. Check the condom’s expiration date.
If it isn’t a good male condom, it won’t make a good dental dam! Check the expiration date to make sure the condom has not expired. You should also check the air bubble in the condom packet to make sure there aren’t any holes in the condom.
Step 2: Check to make sure the condom is in good shape and hasn’t expired.
3. Unroll the condom.
Step 3: Unroll the condom.
4. Using a pair of scissors, cut off the tip and rim of the condom.
Step 4: To convert the condom into a dental dam, cut off the tip of the condom. Step 4: You can also cut the rim of the condom, as that will make it easier to work with.
5. Cut down the length of the condom.
Step 5: Cut down the length of the condom.
6. Use the dental dam.
You’ve now got a rectangular shaped dental dam you can use during oral sex. Now that you’ve got a dental dam, be sure to use it correctly. Be sure to only use a dental dam once, and to only use one side of the dental dam during oral-vaginal sex (don’t flip it over during oral sex). Check out more tips on how to use a dental dam during oral sex here.
Step 6: Only use a dental dam once, and be sure not to flip it over during oral sex.