It’s not just dental procedures that can cause problems with the heart valves. The leads from pacemakers can also cause damage, especially to the tricuspid valve.

In his later years, my father had a pacemaker inserted. Unfortunately, one of the leads was too close to his tricuspid valve.

When my father became ill with a streptococcal infection, the bacteria formed a biofilm on the pacemaker lead.

Because it was too close to the heart valve, the bacteria eventually found its way to the valve and destroyed it.

This event occurred well before doctors were even looking for biofilms. Knowing what I know now about biofilms, I would have been much more aggressive about prescribing probiotics to help crowd out infectious organisms.

Keep in mind that many thousands of pacemakers are successfully inserted without damaging a heart valve.

There are times that a pacemaker needs to be inserted. I do not suggest forgoing a pacemaker insertion if your condition warrants it.

However, you can take probiotics, which may help prevent the formation of a biofilm.

Furthermore, probiotics help to improve the functioning of the immune system which is ultimately in charge of fighting all infections, including biofilms.