It’s National Dental Hygiene Month – a time to celebrate the importance of keeping our smiles beaming and our gums healthy.

While the typical reminder is to keep your teeth brushed, flossed, and glistening from a daily mouthwash rinse, let’s take a look at something more specific.

Endocarditis.

A million-dollar word for a simple teeth-cleaning reminder, right?

But it’s an important term to familiarize ourselves with.

So, what is Endocarditis?

According to the Mayo Clinic, Endocarditis is a life-threatening inflammation of the inner lining of the heart’s chambers and valves.

It might seem a little odd to bring this up when talking about teeth, but it really highlights why good dental hygiene is essential.

Endocarditis is becoming a more common condition than it ever was before, primarily due to improper dental health and dental hygiene. Most people with endocarditis end up contracting it due to a tooth extraction, tooth cleaning, or other dental procedures that allowed bacteria to enter the bloodstream and deposit in the heart, causing permanent damage, typically to a valve.

Mayo Clinic explains that “bacteria can grow inside your mouth and may enter your bloodstream through a cut on your gums. Some dental procedures that can cut the gums also may allow bacteria to get in the bloodstream.”

With all that said, here’s a reminder to be attentive to what you eat and drink at any age. Your teeth and gums can be affected by:

• Sugary drinks – soda, sweetened tea, sports drinks, and energy drinks
• Sticky candies – caramels, gummies, and taffy cling to teeth and feed cavity-causing bacteria.
• Hard candies – not only sugary, but biting them can crack or chip teeth.
• Citrus fruits & juices – oranges, lemons, and grapefruit are acidic and can erode enamel.
• Coffee & tea – can stain teeth and, when sweetened, contribute to decay.
• Alcohol – dries out the mouth, reducing saliva that protects teeth.
• Chips, Crackers, and bread – they break down into sugars and stick between teeth.

Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and visiting your dentist regularly are just as important as exercising and eating well. Oral health is deeply connected to heart health, sleep, and your overall well-being.

Remember!

• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss daily and rinse with mouthwash.
• Limit sugary snacks and drinks.
• Schedule a professional cleaning and check-up.

This month, take a closer look at your daily dental routine. Small, consistent efforts today will help protect your smile for years to come. A healthy smile is worth protecting—today and every day.

For more information, you can check out:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/endocarditis/symptoms-causes/syc-20352576