While waiting for a kidney transplant, it is important patients take care of their oral hygiene because inflammation or dental disease triggers the immune system. This can cause problems when dealing with transplant rejection and infections.
 
Some important guidelines to help manage pre-transplant dental care include regular cleanings, removing all potential sources of infection, daily use of antibacterial mouthwash and treatment of all active dental disease.
 
Patients considering a kidney transplant should talk to their physician and dentist to discuss proper oral hygiene.

This article originally appeared in the February 2008 issue of Kidney Transplant Today.