Your oral health and Your Transplant:
Excellent dental care is essential for everyone. However, it is especially important for transplant recipients because oral problems can lead to oral infections, which can release bacteria into your bloodstream.
The medications you take to prevent your body from rejecting your new organ, unfortunately also put you at a higher risk for infection. To reduce your risk, good oral hygiene is a must:
- Brush your teeth twice daily
- Brush your tongue once daily
- Gently floss your teeth once daily
- Replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months
- Keep your regular dental appointments
- Before having any dental work, including teeth cleaning, you will need to take an antibiotic to help prevent infection. You can get a letter from your transplant team letting your dentist know that you will need a prescription for an antibiotic, and which antibiotic is recommended (erythromycin should be avoided due to potential interaction with some immunosuppressive medications).
Resource: Transplant Experience http://www.transplantexperience.com/kidney/body/after/oral
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