Quiz: Kiss and Tell: What Do You Know About Locking Lips?

There may be no “right” way to kiss, but studies show fewer lip-lockers lean to the left.

The kiss of the Inuit people (aka Eskimos) is part sniff, part nuzzle. They inhale deeply to take in the scent of those they greet. In doing so, they trade invisible chemicals called pheromones, which carry clues about that person’s mood and health. Other mammals, like moose, squirrels, moles, voles, porcupines, and porpoises, size each other up in this way too, at least among their own kind.

Let your lips wander and you might just squander your romance. Men and women agree on this. If you’re married, follow the “no lip-lock out of wedlock" rule. Reserve your kisses for your Mr. or Mrs.

The Hershey Company cites the “sounds-like-a-kiss” theory, but no one knows for sure. Famed for their iconic shape and wrapper, Kisses have been a sweet treat for more than 100 years. The only time the company stopped making Kisses was from 1942 to 1949, when the World War II effort required chocolate paste and foil.

Limit your puppy love to belly rubs and scratches behind the ears. It's a myth that your dog’s mouth is cleaner than yours. Think about where and what he licks -- you don’t want that to cross your lips. Doggy drool carries bacteria that can cause gum disease, as well as other germs and worms you don’t want in your system. 

These blood-sucking insects usually bite at night. They leave behind a parasite that spreads the Chagas infection. This “kissing bug disease,” which often goes unnoticed, can lead to heart trouble, organ damage, and even death. Health officials in Texas, Louisiana, and other Southern states are on alert. One big worry: Bedbugs, which are way more common than their kissing cousins, may spread the disease, too.

The comedy duo ended their hit movie Date Nightby kissing through the credits. The 5-minute smooch smashed the 3-minute, 5-second record of Wyman and Toomey in You’re in the Army Now. Wood and Beatty, despite getting lapped in length, claim Hollywood’s first tongue kiss in Splendor in the Grass. In contrast, Fey describes hers as “a tongueless turtle mouth" with Carell.

Among other things, you can catch herpes simplex, strep throat, the flu, meningitis, mononucleosis, and many other viruses by kissing. It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it.

You might not be able to kiss away the blues, but there are health benefits. A smooch can relieve stress and lower bad cholesterol, which is good for your heart health. Plus, the more often you kiss your partner, the happier you’ll be with your relationship.

Scientists say fueling the fire of desire is not the main point of making out. Kissing endures mostly because it’s a good gauge for how well you get along with someone, and it's a way to boost feelings of closeness.