HIV/AIDS question

Nurses Safety

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Hello to all. Haven't been here in a while. Hope all is well. I have a question concerning how the HIV/AIDS virus is transmitted. I know this will sound crazy but can you transmit the virus through the use of a toothbrush? I know it can be transmitted thru sexual contact, sharing needles and from mother to child but does anyone know and can postively tell me if it's contracted thru the use of a toothbrush? Should one consider testing for the virus? Thanks to all! Mel

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Specializes in medical/telemetry/IR.

HIV is spread:

By having sex without a condom. lady partsl and anal sex carry a high risk. The risk of getting HIV from oral sex is low.

By sharing needles and/or syringes to inject drugs or steroids.

From a mother to her infant during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding.

By getting a tattoo or piercing from a dirty needle.

By transfusions, blood products, or organ transplants. This kind of transmission no longer happens in developed countries, which test all donated blood and organs for HIV.

You can't get HIV from a toilet seat or from touching an infected person. You can't get HIV from being sneezed or coughed or spit on by an infected person. You can't get HIV from kissing (although there is a theoretical risk from very deep "French" kissing). You can't get HIV from a mosquito, flea, or tick bite.

Chances would be slim infected toothbruch would have to have blood/semen on it, then your mouth would have to have a opening-cut or sore for the virus to enter. virus would probably be eaten by digestive juices in our mouth

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I would have to say though, that slim chance or not, there is still a chance that you both could have bldg gums etc and be able to spread the disease. If it were me, even the slimest chance isn't worth the risk and the anxiety of the what if's that may result.

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Specializes in medical/telemetry/IR.

just get an extra toothbrush

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