"After injury to the skin it is instinctive for animals and man to lick the wound. Licking of wounds promotes healing and reduces bacterial contamination." - Victor Ganata

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed... - maʀtha

And this one is fascinating about a community which has an appointed wound licker: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed... #medlib #canthelpit - maʀtha

okay, that's one job I'm glad I don't have :) - Rachel Walden

I've always herd you don't want to be bit by a human because their saliva is a cesspool, so I find this hard to reconcile. - Todd Hoff

You would be OK licking your own wounds because your body is used to the flora that resides on/in it. Licking the wounds of others (or having others lick your wounds) is where issues may come into play. - Hookuh Tinypants

It's the teeth. Some nasty bugs live trapped in plaque and in the spaces between the teeth and the gums, but if they venture out of their protective slime fortresses, they get annihilated by saliva. (People with dry mouth can get some really nasty oral infections.) Don't get bitten by a human! - Victor Ganata

That said, I still wouldn't want my wounds licked by some toothless human. - Victor Ganata

That reminds me of Dune Victor, thanks. - Todd Hoff