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Real members of myHIVteam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

How Is Your Dental Care?

A myHIVteam Member asked a question 💭
Edmore, MI

If you, or someone you know, is living with HIV/AIDS, the American Dental Association recommends that dental health care be part of all HIV/AIDS treatment plans. That’s because people living with HIV/AIDS are more susceptible to infections including dental infections, which can affect their overall health
Your mouth may be the first part of your body to be affected when infected with HIV. Because infection with HIV will weaken your immune system, this means you will be susceptible to… read more

August 4, 2020
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Answer Summary

Members discussed the importance of dental care for people living with HIV/AIDS, sharing their personal experiences with maintaining oral... Read more

Members discussed the importance of dental care for people living with HIV/AIDS, sharing their personal experiences with maintaining oral health and accessing dental services. Several members offered practical strategies, including using Greek yogurt daily to prevent thrush, brushing and flossing twice daily, requesting care through Ryan White programs, and overcoming dental anxiety by finding compassionate providers who are knowledgeable about HIV. A recurring theme was the challenge of accessing affordable, stigma-free dental care, with many members finding support through HIV clinics, dental schools, Ryan White funded programs, and LGBTQ-friendly providers who treat them with dignity and understanding.

A myHIVteam Member

I went yesterday, x-rays, cleaning and had a perfect visit. It's important for me to keep up on my visits not just because of my HIV, but also because of my long meth abuse history. Meth pulls the calcium from your system. That's why so many meth users lose their teeth. I'm very blessed because I only lost a couple in the back, but I was still going while i was using...still not a good idea.
Bone loss in your jaw is a major problem for meth users, and that bone loss causes gum recession which also contributes to tooth loss.
I've been clean now for 22 years. I can't stress enough the importance for good dental care. There are programs available for those that don't have insurance. Please check them out.
If you have a case worker at your HIV docs office, they are an excellent resource...use them.
God bless y'all and have a great day!!!
🌈💜💙💚💛🧡❤

August 11, 2020 (edited)
A myHIVteam Member

@A myHIVteam Member my liver stopped functioning for close to a year then it healed.... Thank God it can regenerate if only a little portion exists. I was pretty sick, I couldn't get out of bed and couldn't eat much. I slept a majority of the time

August 6, 2020
A myHIVteam Member

Way to go on the 22 years, I've been clean from meth about 17 and a half.

August 11, 2020
A myHIVteam Member

I'm just like Axelteran, so go pretty much monthly for adjustments to my dental braces, plus get my teeth cleaned twice a year along with an annual check up with x-rays. Use a water pick and Philips Sonicare electric tooth brush.

Going to the dentist is a positive painless experience for me. I'm openly gay and poz there and never get any kind of negative pushback, if anything extremely supportive of who I am ;)

Jacy

August 10, 2020
A myHIVteam Member

well I on the other hand I had a bad dental i actually had to contact the Ryan White act to have them help me get dentures. I had to have all of my teeth removed because I had very bad bone loss, I feel that's due to taking truvada for so long. Cause now a days they found truvada to be linked to ppl. With hiv/Aids of bone loss.

August 4, 2020

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