Pucker up... kissing it better really does work

EVERY parent knows the first thing to do with a cut arm or scraped knee is to kiss it better.

And now there’s a scientific reason to do it too – experts say it could actually speed up the healing process.

Researchers found saliva has properties that can boost recovery, which is why cuts in the mouth heal quicker.

Professor Vicente Torres, of the University of Chile, said: ‘These findings open new alternatives to better understand the biology underlying the differences between oral and skin wound healing. We believe the study could help the design of better approaches to improve wound healing in tissues other than the mouth.’

The research, in The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal, found the protein histatin-1 in saliva aids healing by boosting the formation of blood vessels.

While it was understood saliva had a role in healing, the extent of its impact was unknown.

Journal editor Dr Thoru Pederson, of Massachusetts University Medical School, said the results ‘open a wide door to a therapeutic advance’ and indicate ‘the possible meaning of animals and often children licking their wounds’.