Poor Oral Health and Increased Risk of Endocarditis

Your dental health can affect a lot more than just your smile. It may not seem like a big deal to skip brushing once in a while after a late night out or floss infrequently, but that sticky film of plaque on your teeth can accumulate and harden into tartar. Plaque and tartar contain dangerous oral bacteria that can infect your gums. Gum disease has been linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's. Recent research has also discovered a link between gum disease and the development of endocarditis in patients who have congenital heart disease.

Two separate studies that were presented in Denmark at the 12th Annual Spring Meeting on Cardiovascular Nursing revealed that adolescents who had congenital heart disease were less likely to use alcohol and drugs than their peers were, but they were also more likely to have poor dental hygiene habits. This is problematic since oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream through bleeding gums that are further irritated by plaque or tartar. Once these oral bacteria enter the bloodstream, they can more easily infect or block the arteries around the heart.

Good dental hygiene is important for everyone, but for those with congenital heart disease, it can mean the difference between a healthy life and life-threatening infection. Brush after meals, floss daily and visit our dentist at least twice annually for a professional cleaning and dental exam. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a cleaning and dental exam with our Los Angeles dentist.