A new study, “Preventive Dental Care and Oral Health of Children with and without Heart Conditions,” was recently published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Children living with heart defects are more likely to develop infective endocarditis. The study found that 1 in 10 children with a heart condition had teeth in fair/poor condition and 1 in 6 had at least one indicator of poor oral health such as toothaches, bleeding gums, or cavities in the past year.