Remember, taking good care of your teeth and gums is a must - not just for a healthy smile

but also for a healthy body

Contact the Dental Health Education Unit for further information on

9313 0604/5 or email dheu@dental.health.wa.gov.auAlternatively visit www.dental.wa.gov.au

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Dental Health Services

Oral Health Instructions

People With Heart Valve Disease

People with heart valve disease are at risk of infective endocarditis. This is a dental concern.

What is infective endocarditis?Infective Endocarditis is an infection of the endocardial surface (inner lining) of the heart. It usually involves the heart valves and people with artificial heart valves are at the highest risk. Heart valves are like flaps that control the flow of blood through the heart. People with heart valve disease have heart valves which do not function properly and start to leak. Germs (bacteria) in the blood stream can rest on these leaky valves and form clusters. Over time these clusters grow bigger and can easily break away and lodge in all the major organs in the body - brain, kidneys, liver, as well as joints etc, and can cause damage to these organs. This is called infective endocarditis.

Your dentist can tell you which cardiac conditions place people at high risk for infective endocarditis

How to reduce the risk?Maintaining good oral hygiene between dental visits and working with the dentist to ensure you have a healthy mouth will greatly reduce your risk of infective endocarditis. Good oral hygiene means removing the sticky invisible layer of germs (plaque), pictured, that form daily on our teeth and gums.What are the dental concerns?Dental procedures such as a subgingival scale and clean, or a dental extraction, present a risk for patients at risk of infective endocarditis. Any time there is bleeding in the gums, the germs can enter the bloodstream, travel to the heart, and may cause an infective endocarditis. The dentist may prescribe prophylaxis (preventive) antibiotics prior to certain dental procedures as recommended by the Australian guidelines.

How can you help?

Clean your teeth thoroughly twice a day using fluoride toothpaste and floss daily

Consume a healthy diet. Limit sugary foods and drinks especially between meals as sugar encourages the growth of germs in the mouth

Attend regularly for dental check-ups

If antibiotics are prescribed you will need to ensure you have the correct dosage and it is taken at the right time

Why is good oral hygiene important?Recent research has shown that poor oral hygiene is a major risk factor in causing infective endocarditis. In a dirty mouth there are lots of germs. These germs will place your health at risk.

You play a vital role in your own dental and general health. You can assist in the following ways:-

If there are any further questions you wish to ask, speak to your dental professional