Kiss Facts

A passionate kiss can burn 2-3 calories per minute and engages up to 34 facial muscles.

Most people believe that the quality of a first kiss is a reliable indicator of how the rest of a romantic relationship will unfold.

People are more likely to tilt their heads to the right when kissing instead of the left (65 percent of people go to the right!)

The letter 'X' became a symbol for a kiss because in medieval times, when many people couldn't read or write, they would sign documents with an X and then kiss the mark to show sincerity—much like swearing on a Bible.

The average person in their lifetime will spend an estimated 20,160 minutes kissing!

Research has shown that allowing chocolate to melt in your mouth produces brain and heart rate activity that is similar to—and even stronger than—that produced with passionate kissing.

Leonardo DiCaprio got his first 'onscreen kiss' from a man!

At Christmas, it is traditional to exchange kisses beneath the mistletoe tree. In ancient Scandinavia, mistletoe was associated with peace and friendship. That may account for the custom of "kissing beneath the mistletoe".

When you kiss someone for the first time, you get a spike in the neurotransmitter dopamine, making you crave more.

A widely-cited 1980s German study allegedly found that men who kiss their wives before leaving for work live longer, earn more money, and get into fewer car accidents than those who don't—though researchers say the benefits likely come from the positive mindset that affectionate relationships foster, not the kiss itself.

Kissing actually has the biological purpose of passing on biological information and chemical signals to assess mating possibilities and status.

Kissing releases masses of oxytocin, a "love potion" that helps couples bond and feel more attracted to each other.

Kissenger is a pig-shaped robotic device that transmits kiss sensations over the internet using pressure sensors and actuators, allowing long-distance couples to share physical affection.