Relationship experts say regular flirting between partners can strengthen emotional bonds and well-being, while flirting outside a committed relationship may signal underlying problems. Dr Mindy DeSeta, a clinical sexologist in Miami, describes flirting as a one-on-one signal of romantic interest that triggers pleasurable brain chemicals, lowers stress hormone levels, and boosts confidence and self-esteem, but says these bonding effects mean it is difficult to keep flirting purely platonic.

DeSeta warns that feeling drawn to flirt with someone other than one's partner, such as a colleague or barista, can be a "red flag" that a relationship has grown stale, and advises redirecting that energy back towards the partner through open, vulnerable conversation. Dr Anna Elton, a marriage and family therapist in Massachusetts, notes that everyday pressures such as work, bills and childcare often push out playfulness and affection, and encourages couples to rebuild a "new language of flirting" through small gestures like a 20-second hug, a six-second kiss, or acts of self-care, while being mindful of timing, since flirting is not always welcome in every moment.