A healthy mouth is great for kissing your romantic partner or reciting Shakespeare’s sonnets to your beloved. Alternatively, gum disease and halitosis (bad breath) could really prevent you from getting close enough to share the deepest, truest feelings of your heart with that special someone! They could also make you heart sick in a very literal way.

Endocarditis is a disease of the heart that can be caused by bacteria from your mouth getting into your blood stream and lodging in the inner linings of your heart chambers and heart valves. Your mouth harbours millions of bacteria. If your gums are red, swollen and sore it means some of these bacteria have infected them and may have gotten into your blood stream. Once in your blood stream, these bacteria may infect your heart too.

If you already have damaged heart valves, heart defects, artificial heart valves, a history of endocarditis or a history of intravenous illegal drug use, you are at higher risk of developing endocarditis. But even those with a healthy heart could get endocarditis from a bad case of gum disease. Certain dental practices also allow bacteria entry into your blood stream and therefore access to your heart.

If you are at risk you may be prescribed antibiotics before dental hygiene or dentistry appointments in order to prevent bacteria from traveling from your mouth to your heart. In some cases, even healthy patients are given antibiotics before dental surgery. Speak to your doctor, dentist and dental hygienist if you have concerns.

Prepare yourself for a fulfilling and heart-healthy Valentine’s Day by caring for your mouth now:

  • Keep your gums healthy by flossing and brushing your teeth daily,
  • Have your teeth cleaned regularly by a registered dental hygienist,
  • See a dentist yearly