Dental care and antibiotics
Since the 1950s, the American Heart Association (AHA) has urged a sizable group of people to take antibiotics before having dental work or other procedures that might flood the bloodstream with bacteria. The antibiotics were supposed to prevent infective endocarditis, a potentially serious infection of the heart’s lining. After a look at the latest evidence, the AHA now emphasizes routine oral care and recommends pre-procedure antibiotics for only some people, reports the October 2007 issue of the Harvard Heart Letter.
Infective endocarditis occurs when bacteria invade the innermost layer of the heart’s chambers. It isn’t common, but it is hard to get rid of and potentially deadly. It can make heart tissue prone to other infections, damage heart valves, and lead to heart failure, stroke, or heart rhythm problems. The organisms that kick off endocarditis live in your mouth, among other places in the body. Having a tooth pulled, gum surgery, or other dental work causes a temporary spike in the number of bacteria in the bloodstream.
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