The American Heart Association for over 50 years has recommended antibiotics be taken prior to a dental visit. This recommendation was for all patients who had heart defects, valvular defects, transplants, prosthetic devices, etc.. The antibiotics prevented endocarditis; a potentially life and death condition of the heart. Therefore, it will come as a surprise to many patients that they no longer need to take antibiotics prior to seeing their dentist.
A spokesperson for the American Heart Association says there is no evidence that antibiotics have had any impact on endocarditis. What does have a deterrent effect is good oral hygiene. Therefore, routine daily oral hygiene such as chewing food or tooth brushing is a lot more likely to cause the deadly heart infection, than the dental visit. This fact is particularly true for people who do not take care of their teeth, and have the subsequent gum diseases which occur when one does not brush, floss, or see the dentist at least twice a year.
However, a few patient categories will continue to be given antibiotics; such as heart transplants, or those with prosthetic devices inserted into their heart. For the rest of us? Buy and use toothbrushes, and floss!
del.icio.us
Digg this
