[Question #13879] Any risk from sharing toothpaste or a mouthwash bottle cap?

2 days ago

Dear doctor, I've a question about two separate situations that happened on different days with two different friends.

1. On one occasion, my wife and I visited a friend's house and used our fiend's mouthwash bottle cap to rinse our mouths. My friend had used the cap just minutes before I did. I worry that he might have had minor gum bleeding after brushing and then used the cap, so there could have been a tiny amount of his blood on cap.

2. On another occasion with different friend, my wife and I brushed our teeth using our friend's toothpaste. My friend brushed his teeth first. Each of us used our own toothbrush and we did not share toothbrushes with anyone. We only shared toothpaste. When applying toothpaste, our toothbrushes might briefly touch the opening of the toothpaste tube where that area might also touched by my friend's toothbrush just minutes ago. My wife may also have had some minor gum bleeding while brushing.

So basically, we (1) shared mouthwash bottle cap and (2) toothpaste with our friends.

We're not sure of our friends' infection status, but both of them have a history of casual sexual encounters. For the purpose of this question, please assume they could have oral syphilis, HIV, HCV, or another STI.

If one of friends happened to have oral syphilis, HIV, HCV, would sharing the mouthwash bottle cap or toothpaste in this situation pose any risk of transmission? Are these considered exposures? Do we need testing? Thanks again!

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

2 days ago

You may not keep asking questions about HIV/STI risk from environmental or other obviously zero risk exposures. You are not at risk from the events described here, any more than the others discussed in your three previous threads. There will be no discussion. Future similar questions will receive not even this much reply but will be deleted entirely without comment. The reasons for this policy were discussed last time; re-read the closing comment in your last thread. Thank you for your understanding. Good bye.

HHH, MD

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