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Related Experiment Videos

Is there a link between tooth brushing and infective endocarditis?

Michael Martin1

  • 1Department of Clinical Dental Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK. m.v.martin@liverpool.ac.uk

International Dental Journal
|July 24, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Tooth brushing can cause bacteremia, but is not linked to infective endocarditis. Using chlorhexidine with brushing may reduce risks for susceptible patients, while antibiotics are not recommended.

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Area of Science:

  • Oral Hygiene
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Tooth brushing is known to induce transient bacteremia.
  • The link between tooth brushing and infective endocarditis (IE) is paradoxical and not well understood.
  • Current guidelines lack specific recommendations for toothbrushing methods in patients at high risk for IE.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the paradoxical association between tooth brushing and infective endocarditis.
  • To evaluate the potential benefit of adjunctive chlorhexidine in reducing bacteremia from tooth brushing.
  • To clarify recommendations for oral hygiene in patients predisposed to infective endocarditis.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on tooth brushing, bacteremia, and infective endocarditis.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of the theoretical risks associated with manual versus electric toothbrushes.
  • Assessment of the impact of chlorhexidine on bacteremia magnitude.

    • Main Results:

    • Tooth brushing causes bacteremia, yet a direct causal link to infective endocarditis is not established.
    • No definitive data compares the IE risk between manual and electric toothbrushes.
    • Adjunctive chlorhexidine use significantly reduces bacteremia magnitude during tooth brushing.

    Conclusions:

    • While tooth brushing causes bacteremia, it's not considered a primary cause of infective endocarditis.
    • Advising chlorhexidine use alongside regular or electric toothbrushing may be prudent for high-risk patients.
    • Prophylactic antibiotics are not indicated for routine tooth brushing in patients at risk for infective endocarditis.