Does giving one with a condom take away from the eroticism? I want to be safe but it seems like it would take a lot out of the sexiness of the act. Thoughts by providers and/or hobbyists would be welcome.

Blowing a cock with a condom is a let down. I want to taste cock, not latex. I also find the feel and warmth of skin much softer and sexier than the feel of latex....

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Condom, no thanks. It is a let down. EOM.

A couple of years ago, I met a pretty "special" lady named Sapphire Gam.  She was lovely & tall.  When it came time for me in her lap of luxury, she put on a condom.  It ended up deflating the interest, and maybe 5 minutes later I was leaving.  She was very nice, but I couldn't speak Spanish to explain that I didn't like the taste or the feel.  And she couldn't talk to me.  I hate throwing away money like that.
Last year in Britain I had the great opportunity to be with the beautiful and foxy Vanessa Santillan.  She was one of the best!  At first I was concerned when I saw her put on the condom, but she told me some helpful things and it was great, though I would of liked it better in the natural.  I did try to post a review about the great Vanessa, but TER rejected it.  Said I over rated her.  She actually cum twice and I did get a taste of her.  
I do make sure to give some time between flossing and brushing my teeth till seeing the "special" lady.  I read about your gums can get microscopic openings after brushing, that could let in AIDS or maybe something else.  One time I heard about someone catching something from receiving a blow job.  Aint sure what that was.  Be careful

Definitely ruins the experience, both giving and receiving.  

My first experience in the hobby (GG, not TG), she put a condom on me and went to work. It was the first time I'd received oral with a condom on and I couldn't feel a thing. t wanted to ask her to just stop, it wasn't doing anything for me and it created a weird disconnect seeing her head bobbing up and down, but feeling nothing.  

On the other end, like was already said before, I want to taste and feel flesh, not latex, when I go down. For me, that's usually the highlight, so if a girl started wrapping up for oral, I'd probably already start mentally checking out of my visit.

I've heard the point about the small wounds from brushing and flossing increasing the risk of infection as well -- that's definitely a good point to make.

Yeah, well ... that's why she'd have to pay me ... including travel expenses!

A provider once told me the only way she allows someone eating her pussy ....  are you ready? ....

"if I cover it first with saran wrap" !!!

Yeah she actually tried to market that jewel of a service.  In retrospect I should have given her a $20 just for the great laugh I got out of it as I shook my head in disbelief while walking away.

So...it sounds like most are willing to take a big risk for the pleasure of no condom. Is there a way to significantly significantly reduce the risk without a rubber?

1)  Brush teeth thoroughly.
2)  Rinse.
3)  Press clean, dry paper towel against gums everywhere inside mouth.
4)  Remove towel and examine for red stains.
5)  If you see any red, cancel the meeting and make appointment with dentist.

Anyone else have any other checks?

As with everything else in life, I think you need to assess the risk and make your own decisions.

FWIW, I am on PrEP, so I feel that I am well-protected from HIV. (I give and receive BBBJ's but do not do BBFS.)  

Even without PrEP, I'd feel comfortable with the oral sex numbers. My personal assessment is that it's not a "big risk".

In the Salon article I linked below, there's discussion of a study that says, "A University of California, San Francisco, study put the per-contact risk of transmission through “receptive” fellatio withwe do  an HIV positive partner at 0.04 percent. (For perspective, consider that the same study found a much higher per-contact risk of 0.82 percent for unprotected receptive anal sex.) The researchers calculated the rate of HIV transmission to be 4 out of 10,000 acts of fellatio. Without ejaculation in the mouth, though, some experts have called HIV transmission via performing fellatio “extremely low risk.”

(The "extremely low risk" link in the article is lengthy, but is a good read.)

So yes, the risk is nonzero. But I think we all likely engage in other riskier behavior.

Thanks Jessica for the thorough reply. Interesting findings!

From what I've read, there have been essentially zero verified cases of HIV transmitted through fellatio.  Of much greater concern is gonorrhea.  It's easily transmittable through BBBJs, both to the giver and receiver, and drug resistance is a growing threat, especially overseas.  And out of all sexually active populations in the US, who likely travels and has risky sex overseas the most?  In my mind, it's probably providers and mongers.