Experts' urgent warning to couples who aren't intimate every day... as they reveal hidden risk

Leading relationship experts are revealing the potential dangers of skipping daily intimacy - warning couples it could lead to the demise of their relationship.

And they're not talking about sex.

Mariah Freya, sex education expert and co-founder of Beducated, a sex-education platform, is urging couples to kiss more, especially if they feel the relationship is lacking a spark.

She said: 'Kissing is the most underrated relationship tool. Couples obsess over date nights, whether they're having 'enough' sex, and communication techniques, but they're sleeping on the one thing that actually predicts whether they'll stay happy together.'

Freya claims that couples who regularly indulge in kissing each other instead of settling for pecks tend to have less conflict, an increased desire for intimacy and better emotional connection.

And it seems that research supports her as previous studies have found a correlation between kissing and relationship satisfaction.

A 2019 study found how frequently a couple kisses is a strong indicator of both sexual and relationship satisfaction - the more couples kissed, the happier they were.

Additionally, the researchers also found that regular kissing can reduce anxiety and improve overall relationship quality.

Freya continued: 'Something magical happens when we stop going about kissing in a mechanical way and really focus on it, even if it's for a few seconds more.

'That's when your brain shifts from 'greeting mode' to 'connection mode.' Your partner literally becomes more attractive to you.'

But not all couples are indulging in the simple act of love.

A 2011 survey found that one in five married couples don't pucker-up with their partner for an entire week, while two in five married people lock lips for just five seconds or less when they do kiss.

Surprisingly, those between the ages of 18 to 24 kiss each other on an average of 11 times per week and five percent of people aged over 45 are managing over 31 kisses each week.

But while many may blame busy schedules as the reason why they aren't kissing their partners, Brie Temple, CCO and Chief Matchmaker at Tawkify, warns that it may be a sign of 'something deeper'

She told this website: 'If kissing fades, it's a subtle sign that something deeper is shifting. It's one of the first signs of emotional disconnection.

'Without those soft moments, partners may find themselves feeling like roommates rather than lovers. It's not just an absence of physical touch, but an absence of shared emotional language that keeps relationships close.'

Additionally, a lack of kissing between partners may also be a sign of waning physical intimacy, communication challenges and worsening self-esteem.

Sunaree Ko, a Love & Compatibility Expert at TarotCards told DailyMail.com: 'A lack of kissing over time can chip away at intimacy.

'When physical affection fades, couples may start to feel emotionally disconnected, misread each other’s intentions or feel undervalued, especially during stressful periods.'

But while infrequent kissing combined with issues such as mistrust and other negative emotions may indicate serious cracks in the relationship, simply taking some time out to smooch may do wonders for you and your partner.

According to Sofie Roos, a licensed sexologist and relationship therapist, kissing can release a cocktail of good hormones including oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin in the brain which can help improve the emotional connection between a couple.

She told DailyMail.com: 'Oxytocin, also known as the love hormone, which creates feelings of safety, calmness, attachment and affection - in other words: the feeling of being in love.

'By getting oxytocin triggered by your partner through kisses, you have higher chances of keeping the love and attraction alive!

'Kissing also releases dopamine, called the feel good hormone, which makes us feel overall satisfied since it creates an euphoric feeling.

'Dopamine is the same hormone being released during an orgasm or exercising, but also when taking drugs such as cocaine and heroin, and by getting it from kissing your partner, you get a natural high that not only feels good but that also can maintain the flame and the romantic interest for the person!

'Serotonin is the third hormone being released in this hormone cocktail which is dancing in your body while kissing your loved one.'

Roos continued: 'Serotonin prevents feeling down and depressed, it helps us sleep better, and it also makes us less impulsive and more stable - all factors making our life quality better, as well as making us a better partner!

'This natural high is created when all the sensitive nerves on our lips and tongue register the physical stimulation from the kissing and then sends the signals to the brain, which releases the hormones directly in our bloodstream.'

Furthermore, Ko claims that kissing your partner at certain times of the day can help maximize the benefits of the activity.

She said: 'Some of the most successful couples credit a simple ritual of kissing first thing in the morning and last thing at night as their secret to staying emotionally connected, no matter how busy life gets.

'It's a small act with a huge energetic impact, a daily affirmation of love, desire, and loyalty. Even when words fail, a kiss can realign a couple's bond on both a physical and spiritual level.'