Abesha Care HIV/AIDS Initiative

On the Cheek:

HIV is not transmitted casually, so kissing on the cheek is very safe.
Even if the other person has the virus, your unbroken skin is a good
barrier. No one has become infected from such ordinary social
contact as dry kisses, hugs, and handshakes.

Open-Mouth Kissing:

Open-mouth kissing is considered a very low-risk activity for the
transmission of HIV. However, prolonged open-mouth kissing could
damage the mouth or lips and allow HIV to pass from an infected
person to a partner and then enter the body through cuts or sores in
the mouth. Because of this possible risk, the CDC recommends
against open-mouth kissing with an infected partner.

One case suggests that a woman became infected with HIV from her
sex partner through exposure to contaminated blood during
open-mouth kissing.

REFERENCE
CDC. HIV and AIDS: Are You at Risk?

Content Source:
Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

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