You can always choose not to kiss at all, but I think a provider is cleaner than your average civvie at a bar or wherever due to the fact that this is the provider's livelihood and an STD will be devastating to them in more ways than one.. Do understand that I'm referring to "classier" providers (vague term, I know) and not low grade trashy ones..
Also, using Listerine or Peroxyl to rinse your mouth after the date may also help..
Originally Posted by Irish Cream
When dealing with HSV it will not help at all. Herpes impacts the nerves and once it has taken a "hold" on the nerves (by being massaged in from the act either kissing or sexual contact) the damage is done. Cleaning up after sexual contact doesn't do much of anything except make you smell better. This does apply for majority of the STD's out there.
In dealing with HSV kissing and oral sex are LOW risk for transmission. Kissing and Oral sex doesn't provide much of the needed heat and friction to work the virus into the skin. As an exmaple to what I am referring too. I know of a person who had a partner whom was HSV-1+ with cold sores. Sexual contact was avoided anytime an outbreak was present (or prodome event). The nice lady reported that they had an active (taking her word as I wasn't there) oral sex life. It took her 5 years before she had HSV-1 transmitted genitally.
There is a risk in anything we do. Measuring the risk is something we may or may not do. The impact with something like Herpes isn't a life killer. Though it may cause some challenges in the long run, Herpes is just a cowardly non-life threatening virus. When you consider that by the time most of us hit the old folks home that more than 65% of us will have HSV either oral or genital just makes me think who cares. Hope this helps!