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Can You Get AIDS From Saliva?

HIV, or human immuno-deficiency virus, is found in the saliva of an HIV-positive person; however, there is not enough HIV in saliva to cause infection in another person. You cannot contract HIV through sharing items or most forms of kissing unless another infectious fluid is also present.

  1. Casual Contact

    • HIV cannot be contracted through sharing items like drinking glasses or other dishes. Additionally, HIV cannot be contracted through casual kissing, according to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

    Kissing Risk

    • HIV can, however, be passed on through kissing if both partners are actively bleeding in the mouth (as from open sores or cuts), there is a risk of infection with HIV, said the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

    Other Fluids

    • Fluids that can transmit HIV are blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk. Other bodily fluids contain too little HIV to transmit the virus to another person. Sweat contains no HIV.

    Exceptions

    • Blood or another of the infectious bodily fluids must be present in a non-infectious bodily fluid for there to be a risk of HIV transmission.

    Testing

    • People who believe they have been exposed to HIV (through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex or shared use of hypodermic needles) should be tested to know their status.

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