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Dental health

Good dental health is important for every child, but especially for children with HIV. Your child’s teeth should be gently cleaned twice a day. It’s important to keep a look out for any signs of infections, pain or inflammation as these can indicate more serious health problems. Your child should have regular dental check-ups. All dental care for children is free in the UK and your HIV clinic may be able to recommend a dentist.

Make sure your child does not share their toothbrush with anyone else. Brushing teeth can sometimes make them bleed and, although the risk of being infected is very small, good general hygiene means that it is best to make sure everyone has their own toothbrush.

This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.