There are some magic words that get a man hot and bothered pretty quickly, and two of the most powerful in that regard are "oral sex." Sure, guys tend to like many other kinds of sex as well, often more than oral sex. But there’s still something special about the mouth-to-penis brand of engagement that holds a special place for a man. (It also helps inspire him to keep an eye on his penis health, since no partner wants to be an unhygienic penis in their mouth.) Sometimes, however, there can be a downside to oral sex - penis pain resulting from a willing but inexperienced partner.

The following are tips for those who may be offering oral sex to their men and to men to help them guide partners past some of these potential causes of unintended penis pain.

The teeth.

There’s probably not an adult alive who doesn’t know that teeth can be a tricky business when it comes to performing oral sex on a penis. Although some penises enjoy a little toothy nibble, for the most part it’s best to try to keep the teeth from scraping the penis. It may look sturdy but it’s actually very sensitive to touch, after all. And if a person has braces, this can be an especially difficult situation. Best advice if an oral sex performer is laden with braces: cover the penis in a condom before getting down to work.

Don’t get too spicy.

Men absolutely love the way a mouth feels on their erection - but that can change in an instant if that mouth has too recently savored some spicy mustard or too much hot sauce. When strong spices linger on the tongue, they can get transferred to the penis - and the thin, delicate penis skin will deliver those spices right to the nerve sensors that make sex so enjoyable for a man. The fiery sensation is not pleasant. Brushing and/or using mouthwash after eating a spicy dinner can help avoid this particular form of penis pain.

Watch the herpes.

Some sexually-transmitted infections, such as oral herpes, can be transmitted during oral sex, which can result in another form of penis pain. By the same token, some STIs can be passed from the penis to the partner during oral sex as well. Avoiding sex during a herpes outbreak is advised; at the least, using a condom is recommended.

Don’t spread an illness.

When a partner has a contagious illness - not an STI, but a cold, flu, etc. - they can spread tons of germs by fellating their partner. Again, using a condom is a wise idea - and just not agreeing to oral sex until feeling better makes even more sense.

Stay lubricated.

It may sound strange, but even when the penis is covered by a mouth, it can get a little dried out. Taking a break to add saliva or another lubricant to the penis can help to avoid penis pain due to rawness.

Some men are so desirous of oral sex that they don’t mind experiencing penis pain in the heat of the moment - but may regret it later. Things will go better if the penis is already in good health, thanks to the daily application of a top drawer penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Sometimes the penis loses some much-needed sensation due to penis pain, so a crème with L-carnitine is best. L-carnitine is neuroprotective and helps restore lose sensitivity. The crème should also include a potent antioxidant, such as alpha lipoic acid. This helps ward off excess free radicals which cause oxidative damage, weakening and damaging penis skin.