Dental plaque is the principal etiological agent of most periodontal diseases. Effective preventive strategies are antimicrobial, with the preponderance of scientific evidence supporting the physical removal of dental plaque through personal oral hygiene measures and periodic professional care. Combining professional and self-care with chemotherapeutic agents that reduce periodontal microbiota provide additional benefits for those patients at greater risk for periodontal diseases. Streptococcus gordonii is a normal inhabitant of the mouth and contributes to plaque that forms on the surface of teeth. If these bacteria enter into the blood stream through bleeding gums they can start to wreak havoc by masquerading as human proteins. better understanding of the relationship between bacteria and platelets could ultimately lead to new treatments for infective endocarditis. "In the development of infective endocarditis, a crucial step is the bacteria sticking to the heart valve and then activating platelets to form a clot. We are now looking at the mechanism behind this sequence of events in the hope that we can develop new drugs which are needed to prevent blood clots and also infective endocarditis," Infective endocarditis is treated with surgery or by strong antibiotics -- which is becoming more difficult with growing antibiotic resistance. "About 30% of people with infective endocarditis die and most will require surgery for replacement of the infected heart valve with a metal or animal valve," Oral bacteria that escape into the bloodstream are able to cause blood clots and trigger life-threatening endocarditis. Dental plaque is a complex biofilm attached to teeth. The first stage in development of this oral biofilm is the acquired pellicle, which forms immediately on exposure of a clean tooth surface to saliva. The acquired pellicle allows adhesion of naturally occurring oral bacteria that produce exopolysaccharides to enhance further accumulation of bacteria. Dental plaque becomes more complex when bacteria multiply and other bacterial species replace initial colonizers. Over time, as the plaque thickens and matures, bacterial colonies aggregate to construct a community-like structure, an interactive microenvironment.

Regards
Sarah eve

Editorial Assistant

Journal of Oral Hygiene and Health