JOSH@IBM.COM (Josh Knight) (06/07/90)
Ron Rizzo <rrizzo@BBN.COM> asks about HIV infection from kissing due to blood in the mouth caused by gingivitis. If your mouth (or the mouth of someone you kiss deeply) regularly has blood from bleeding gums, get thee (or them) to a periodontist. While it's true that gum disease (of which bleeding gums are a symptom) is common, if the gums are bleeding (without physical irritation) then you need treatment. I'm someone who has paid for lots of expensive periodontal work, not someone who gets paid for it...perhaps a periodontist or other dental professional should comment. Josh