In recent years, diseases of the gums and teeth have been implicated as risk factors for heart disease, particularly cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. Periodontal disease in particular appears to be linked to inflammatory diseases of the heart. However, study results are inconclusive, and more research is necessary to determine the exact relationship between heart disease and oral health.

Even so, proper dental care includes many heart-healthy recommendations, such as smoking cessation and a healthy diet. Good dental hygiene is vital to achieving and maintaining optimal general health.

Also, there is an established link between some dental procedures and a rare infection of the heart lining called bacterial endocarditis. This disease occurs when bacteria from the mouth enter the bloodstream, sometimes as a result of dental procedures, and infect the heart valves. This disease occurs mainly in patients with pre-existing valvular heart disease.

Because of the risk of heart valve infection, heart patients may need to take preventive (prophylactic) antibiotics before and after having any dental work done. This preventive measure is particularly important for those patients with heart murmurs, valvular heart disease, mechanical valves, or various congenital heart defects.

A patient with a mechanical valve may be prescribed a higher dose of preventive oral antibiotics than the standard published oral antibiotic dosing schedule. In addition, some physicians may choose to administer the antibiotics intravenously, rather than orally, to achieve an even better antibiotic protection.

Dental professionals may recommend that people with heart-related conditions take special precautions to avoid the development of periodontal disease. For example, patients who take medication for either high blood pressure (hypertension) or epilepsy will need to monitor for drug-induced gingival overgrowth, a side effect that can contribute to periodontal disease. Also, people with diabetes will need to pay particular attention to controlling their blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels to reduce their increased risk of periodontal disease and heart disease.