My Partner Has a Peanut Allergy. Do We Have to Worry About Kissing? (for Teens) (2024)

My girlfriend has a peanut allergy. I've heard stories about how people can die after kissing someone who just ate nuts. What should I do?

The stories you've heard do happen, but are very rare. If you take some simple precautions, you and your girlfriend can kiss with no problems.

A food that can cause a reaction in a person is called an allergen. Food allergens are found in a person's saliva (spit) right after eating. But the amount of allergens in the mouth goes down over time, and after a few hours they are all but gone. Experts advise brushing your teeth and waiting at least 4 hours before kissing someone if you think you ate a food that person may be allergic to.

If it's noon and you won't see your girlfriend until later that evening, it's OK to have a PB&J for lunch. Just be sure to brush your teeth using toothpaste before you see her (just as anyone wanting kiss-worthy breath would do).

If you go out for a meal together, choose what you eat carefully. Ask her for advice on what you can order that doesn't have peanut ingredients — or order the same thing she does — and you can kiss her goodnight with no problem.

Medically reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD

Date reviewed: January 2021

My Partner Has a Peanut Allergy. Do We Have to Worry About Kissing? (for Teens) (2024)

FAQs

My Partner Has a Peanut Allergy. Do We Have to Worry About Kissing? (for Teens)? ›

Experts advise brushing your teeth and waiting at least 4 hours before kissing someone if you think you ate a food that person may be allergic to. If it's noon and you won't see your girlfriend until later that evening, it's OK to have a PB&J for lunch.

Can you kiss someone who is allergic to peanuts? ›

A study on peanut allergen exposure through saliva , such as through kissing, found that it's safest for the partner of the person with allergy to avoid the allergenic food. Advice to minimize risks includes waiting several hours after eating and eating a peanut-free meal before kissing someone with peanut allergy.

Can peanut allergies be airborne? ›

Abstract. Background: Allergic reactions to food allergens usually occur after ingestion. However, fear of reactions to airborne peanut is a common concern for people with peanut allergy. There are no scientific reports on severe reactions with airborne peanut allergen.

How long does peanut stay in saliva? ›

Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai studied the risk of peanut exposure from the saliva of a partner who had eaten peanut butter. They found that no detectible peanut protein was left almost four hours later and after the partner had eaten a peanut-free meal.

Can kids overcome peanut allergies? ›

Will my child outgrow their nut allergy? There is a good chance your child will outgrow their allergy: around 20 per cent of children outgrow their peanut allergy by the time they are teenagers, while around 10 per cent will outgrow a tree nut allergy.

Can the smell of peanuts trigger allergy? ›

Peanut allergies are caused by a protein in peanuts. The protein isn't present in the smell, so just the odor of peanuts can't cause a reaction. However, if people are grinding, shelling, or cooking peanuts near you, it could release peanut dust, particles, or oils into the air.

Can people with peanut allergies have Hershey Kisses? ›

Hershey's Kisses: The milk chocolate dollops are made in a peanut-free facility, so they're safe, except for those who have a milk allergy. Hershey's Milk Chocolate: While many of the other chocolate bars made from this classic company need to be avoided by those with nut allergies, these old-school bars are a go.

What is a Level 1 peanut allergy? ›

The test assigns those with a peanut allergy one of three levels: Level 1 is the most reactive. While 92 percent of this group can tolerate 4 milligrams of peanut (a trace amount of peanut protein), only 53 percent can tolerate 44 mg. Fewer than 30 percent can tolerate 144 mg (about half a peanut).

Can I be allergic to my boyfriend's saliva? ›

It turns out that their partners' saliva is excreting the allergen hours after the food or medicine has been absorbed by their body." "Kissing" allergies are most commonly found in people who have food or medication allergies. Symptoms include swelling of the lips or throat, rash, hives, itching and wheezing.

Can I kiss my baby if I ate peanut butter? ›

Eventually, even the briefest exposure — such as a kiss from someone who recently ate peanuts — may cause a serious reaction. A rash may break out over the body. The eyes or airways may close.

Do peanut allergies ever go away? ›

There is no cure for peanut allergies. But children can outgrow peanut allergies. As children get older, an allergist (allergy doctor) may perform another blood or skin test to measure a child's sensitivity to peanuts. If a peanut allergy appears to be decreasing, allergists may recommend an oral food test.

Can you reverse a peanut allergy? ›

Currently, 1 in 5 children with a peanut allergy outgrows the condition before adulthood. Dr. Hong and Dr. Bjelac say treatment advances could reverse those numbers, with as many as 4 in 5 children leaving their peanut worries behind with the boogeyman and other childhood fears.

At what age do peanut allergies develop? ›

[1] Peanut allergy typically manifests initially during childhood with symptom occurrence as early as 4 months of age and usually within the first 2 years of life. Approximately 20% of children will naturally outgrow their peanut allergy and tolerate them without events later on in life.

How to date someone with a peanut allergy? ›

Ask about what they've eaten that day before you kiss. Teach your partner how to use your epinephrine auto-injector. Always carry two epinephrine auto-injectors with you, even if you don't plan to eat. Choose food-free dates like the movies, bowling, a walk in the park, etc.

Can I kiss my baby after eating peanut butter? ›

But the "peanut butter kiss" is a bad idea. Based on what scientists call the dual allergen exposure hypothesis, this kiss won't work, and may actually increase your baby's peanut allergy risk.

Can kissing make you resistant to allergies? ›

Bottom line: Kissing significantly reduced allergic responses in patients with both allergic rhinitis (runny nose and itchy eyes) or allergic dermatitis (like a rash).

Can peanuts cause oral allergy syndrome? ›

Peanut anaphylaxis (PA) is common in children; oral allergy syndrome (OAS) to peanut is common in adults. Cross-reactivity between fa*gales tree (including birch and oak family trees) pollen and peanut can explain the age difference observed in peanut allergy, as the fa*gales pollen sensitization rate increases with age.

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