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Streptococcus sanguinis is a Gram-positive facultative coccus species of bacteria. S. sanguinis is a normal inhabitant of the healthy human mouth where it is particularly found in dental plaque, where it modifies the environment to make it less hospitable for other strains of Streptococcus that cause cavities. However, S. sanguinis may gain entrance to the bloodstream when opportunity presents and colonize in the heart valves, where it is the most common cause of bacterial endocarditis. For this reason, oral surgeons often prescribe a short course of antibiotics to be taken a few days before to a few days after oral surgery.
