The researchers found that 10% of American children and adolescents with heart disease had dental problems ranging from bad to moderate.
The researchers say that these findings are of partial concern, because the entry of oral bacteria into the bloodstream can lead to children with heart disease developing infective endocarditis, which is a rare condition that leads to inflammation of the inner lining of the heart. life threatening.
According to Dr. Allen D’Alessio, chief of pediatric dentistry at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, the problem to focus on is maintaining good oral health, which mainly helps avoid dental problems that can seriously affect the health of pediatric heart patients.
There are many reasons why children with heart disease are more susceptible to tooth decay, according to study leader Carrie Downing, a researcher with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Downing says children may have operations or other surgical procedures that make it difficult for them to care for their teeth and gums. Also, children with heart disease often have developmental or intellectual disabilities that make dental care difficult.
Downing advises parents to make sure to give their children adequate amounts of water, and to reduce their consumption of juices or other sweetened drinks significantly, to maintain the health of their teeth, in addition to following up on children when brushing their teeth and making sure they use toothbrushes and flossing while they do so, according to the website. UBI” email.