Hepatitis/Toothbrush Alert

Research has shown that the hepatitis C virus could be spread by sharing toothbrushes. Although the disease is commonly transmitted through contaminated blood products, studies have shown that the virus may also be present in saliva.

In one study of patients infected with hepatitis C, 30 percent tested positive for traces of the virus in their saliva prior to brushing and 38 percent after brushing. The virus was also present in 40 percent of the water rinsed from the toothbrushes.

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