Whether you're on a sandy beach, in a grassy meadow or just relaxing at home, pucker up and get kissing this summer for good health.

A one-minute kiss burns about 26 calories so for every ten minutes you smooch, you'll get rid of six chocolates.

When you have a good snog you use most of your facial muscles so you'll tone your neck and condition your cheek bones and chin.

Kissing is good for your teeth, too, because it increases the production of saliva, which helps reduce tooth decay.

It's also said you've got less chance of catching a cold from kissing than you have shaking hands.

Research commissioned by dating web site www.datetheuk.com found 98 per cent of men and 97 per cent of women agree kissing is one of life's greatest pleasures - and there is a physiological explanation as to why it really does produce feelings of euphoria and pleasure.

Philematology, defined as the art or science of kissing, shows a good kiss stimulates the brain to produce dopamine and oxytocin, which in turn stimulates the release of the happy hormones, endorphins.

But a bad kiss can really put you off someone - more than half the women surveyed said they ended a relationship because they didn't like the way they were kissed by their new man.

Cold sores, bad breath and horrid teeth are all passion killers.

Dentist Christopher Gull, who has a practice in Ship Street, Brighton, says: "People are not going to be attracted to others who have bad breath, shiny red gums or yellow teeth.

A good way to test whether you've got bad breath is to lick the back of your hand, leave it for five seconds and then smell it."

And to ensure you have luscious lips, Sarah Best, owner of Arches Health And Beauty, Church Road, Hove says: "Use a sun block and also a peeling mask on your lips.

"Don't share lipstick, because this can spread diseases and infections such as cold sores."

Here are ten products to help you have healthy kissable lips:

  • Badger Lip And Body Balm. In Highland Mint, Ginger and Lemon, Lavender and Orange and Tangerine Breeze to soothe, smooth and improve tender lips. The Dolphin House Shop and Infinity Foods, £2.99 to £3.99 for 21g.
  • Aloe Dent. Aloe vera mouth wash with aloe vera, vitamin K, tea tree oil grapeseed extract. Infinity Foods, £3.49 for 250ml.
  • Pureline Oral Care Tongue Cleaner. Removes bacteria for fresh breath. Infinity Foods, £3.49. Also try Oolitt Tongue Cleanser, www.pharmacy2u.co.uk, £3.29.
  • Living Nature Manuka Honey Lip Balm. Uses the healing powers of manuka honey. The Dolphin House Shop, £7.60 for 12ml. Burt's Bees Lip Shimmers. Lip balms with a kiss of natural colour and pearlised shine in seven shades. The Dolphin House Shop, £6 for 2.6g.
  • Dr Hauschka Lipsticks. With the conditioning properties of rose petal, almond oil extract and jojobo oil. The Dolphin House Shop, £18 each for 4.5g.
  • Neal's Yard Sun Protection Lip Balm. With carrot oil, shea nut butter, UVA and UVB protection. Neal's Yard, £2.55 for 7.5g, £4 for 15g.
  • Matis Delicate range Peeling Cream for sensitive skin. Suitable for lips and also eyes. Available from Arches Health And Beauty, £24.50 for a supply which will last more than a year.
  • Ambre Solaire Lip Protection Stick. With sun protection factor 20. Rich in moisturisers and vitamin E. Stockists include Boots, price £3.99.
  • Vitint Safe And White Toothpaste. A peroxide-free whitening toothpaste using an active oxygen formula which gives you natural white teeth safely. Available from Boots, price £8.95.
  • Stockist information: Arches Health And Beauty, Church Road, Hove, 01273 770072.

Boots, North Street, Brighton, 01273 207461. www.boots.com .

The Dolphin House Shop, New Road, Brighton, 01273 721720.

Infinity Foods, North Road, Brighton, 01273 603563.

Neal's Yard, Kensington Gardens, Brighton, 01273 601464. www.nealsyardremedies.com