The Dangers of Root Canals
An increasing amount of scientific evidence continues to validate concerns that oral health is significantly correlated with systemic, whole body health.
In fact, it is believed today that root canals can serve as the primary sites of infection which can seep into other tissues in the body causing lowered immunity and chronic disease. Could your root canal be causing your chronic health problems?
What is a Root Canal?
The nerve beneath a tooth can become infected or damaged as a result of plaque buildup, tooth erosion or gum disease for instance. A root canal procedure involves drilling into the tooth so that the nerve and dental decay can be removed.
A chemical solution is used to sterilize the infected area which is then tightly sealed back up. In theory, the sterilization process is designed to completely remove any bacteria capable of causing infection. But is this possible?
The American Dental Association claims that there is lacking scientific evidence behind the association that root canals can cause major health risks. Unfortunately, this is true that there are currently no accurate tests which show that root canals are without a doubt the cause of a specific health problem. However, just because a suspect tossed the gun does not imply he did not pull the trigger.
Root Canals Promote Secondary Infections
Ranging from false assumptions to medical error, there is a significant risk of secondary infections as well as the possible requirement of further root canals following the first. As a consequence, a root canal does not guarantee a solution but rather the delay of more significant health problems.
Sanitization is Not Possible
The underlying problem with root canals originates from the misunderstanding that microbes, fungi and viruses can be eradicated from the tooth and gums with 100% effectiveness. Recent research confirms that these infective agents are secluded in up to 3 miles of microscopic tubules of the tooth and gums which remains out of reach and unexposed to sanitizing solutions.
A commonly used disinfectant, sodium hypochlorite, was tested to determine how much bacterial residue was left behind a treated area. Scientists found that up to 50% of the bacteria population remained following the sanitizing process.
Despite dentists’ best efforts to follow safe and effective sterilization techniques and maintain a clean surgical environment, human error is also partly to blame for the exposure of bacteria and cause of secondary health complications.
Root Canals Foster Harmful Bacteria
Furthermore, an oxygen free environment is the perfect brewing spot for anaerobic bacteria to thrive when dentist seal off the treated area. These bacteria harbor toxins which can leak into surrounding tissue and pick up a free ride to any location in the body.
A recent study indicates that 87 patients whose health conditions were monitored for three years following a root canal procedure experienced deteriorating health symptoms.
In the image below you will see a study published in the root canal specialists (Endodontists) journal. The authors of the study took individuals who were preparing to have their wisdom teeth extracted.
They did a root canal on one side and then removed both wisdom teeth in three months. The study showed that the tooth without the root canal had only 1% of its tubules infected. However, the tooth that had a root canal three months earlier had 39% of the tubules infected.
Antibiotics Can Cause Drug Resistance
With no circulation and blood flow reaching the sealed off area or the miles of tubules fostering microorganisms, bacteria are safe from the antibiotic’s threat. As a result, the antibiotic you are consuming intended to kill off the harmful bacteria in your mouth is actually harming the good bacteria in the rest of your body which are required to boost your immunity and fight off sickness on your own.
As a result of this over use of antibiotics, there are a variety of strains of harmful bacteria that are not only antibiotic resistant but also pose life threatening risks.
Toxins Can Cause Systemic Dysfunction
Dr. Weston Price and his research team found that implanting an infected tooth from a human to another animal would cause the same systemic complications to that animal as the human was suffering from.
The cause of secondary health symptoms is not only directly dependent on the presence of bacteria, but also the production of toxins produced from the bacteria.
Root Canals and Degenerative Disease
In order of the highest risks found associated with root canals are:
- Heart and Circulatory Disease
- Inflammation in the body found in arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Brain and Nervous System Diseases
The next greatest risk associated with root canals following diseases of the brain and nervous system are problems associated with any type of health complication an individual can suffer from. These problems might include adverse health responses such as lowered immunity and diabetes.
Root Canals Lower Immunity
One of the easiest assumptions for an individual to make is that if a healthy person has a root canal and does not experience any health complications, root canals cannot be to blame for the deterioration of health. Unfortunately, this assumption has one limiting factor: time.
Dr. Meinig further comments in an interview that some individual’s immune systems may be better equipped to manage the bacteria and the released toxins. Over time, just like exhausting any other natural defense system you can think of whether it be armed forces or a physical barricade, the defense system will become weakened and eventually destroyed.
It is inevitable that infectious agents will maneuver their way to other organs in the body and may manifest their symptoms in chronic diseases which can lead to death if left untreated.
Root Canals Increase Risk of Diabetes
Although type-2 diabetes has not yet been directly determined to be a result of infections following root canal procedures, there is mounting evidence that the risks of developing type-2 diabetes increases. Intricately woven into the healthy functioning of the human body’s immune system, type-2 diabetes is a known disease related to inflammation in the body and has been directly contributed to periodontal disease and tooth loss.
Don’t let a root canal be the cause of your health problems. Take the following steps to improving your oral health care today.
Care Tips to Improve Your Oral Health
Preventing the deterioration of your teeth and gums is first and most important to reducing your risks of chronic diseases linked to poor oral health. The following are some common strategies you should already be well aware of in caring for your teeth and gums.
- Brush your teeth a minimum of twice a day and flossing daily
- Visit the dentist as recommended by your doctor
- Replace your toothbrush once the bristles become frayed or at least every 3 or 4 months
- Use a tongue scraper to remove dead cells and bacteria which cause bad breath
- Brush using a nontoxic toothpaste free of fluoride and chemical additives
- Limit acidic foods and beverages in your diet by removing soda altogether and replacing it with purified water
- Consume a healthy diet rich in whole food sources and nutrients
Ayurveda Oral Health Care Tips
Some preventative methods at maintaining the health of your teeth and gums may be new to you but stem from a traditional style of medicine that dates back to over 3,000 years ago in India.
Oil Pulling Benefits Oral Health Care
The practice of oil pulling may sound unappealing but is a very simple practice which is claimed to cure headache, asthma and is a remedy for bleeding gums, dull senses including taste and vision, sore throat, and tooth decay. Although sesame oil is known as the Queen of Seed Crops for its health benefits, sunflower oil has also been traditionally as well as coconut oil.
Compared to standard mouthwash, oil pulling practices using sesame oil actually was found to significantly prevent against plaque-induced gingivitis by decreasing plaque and bacteria. Two methods are referred to often in oil pulling practices and can be used on a daily basis:
Graha Gandusha: In this style of oil pulling, the mouth is completely filled with oil and held for up to 5 minutes without gargling.
Kavala Graha: If expanding your cheeks for up to 5 minutes while holding liquid is uncomfortable or cannot be done, Kavala Graha involves filling the mouth with only enough oil to be swished throughout your teeth and gums for 3 minutes.
Essential Oils Benefit Oral Health Care
Using a 100% pure and therapeutic grade of essential oil from a trusted supplier, rub a drop of tea tree oil or peppermint oil along a strand of floss to receive its many health benefits.
Experiencing pain and swelling in teeth or gums? Clove oil acts as a topical anesthetic. Ditch the chemically derived orajel products containing benzocaine and switch to a natural pain remedy proven to be just as effective as its conventional and toxic alternative.
The natural oils found in herbs are another great source at preventing microbial diseases in the oral cavity. Herbal tooth gels have been shown to provide the same effectiveness as fluoride in eliminating carcinogenic bacteria and contain no adverse health consequences following use.
Aside from clove, peppermint and tea tree oil, other herbs such as neem, liquorice root, cinnamon, turmeric root and parsley have antiseptic, antifungal and antiviral properties.
Probiotics Benefit Oral Health Care
Along with supplementing your cooking with added herbs, benefit from consuming probiotic rich foods and beverages such as sauerkraut and Kombucha to inhibit the growth of bad bacteria. Healthy bacteria support dental hygiene by improving the pH balance. Consider the following example to explain how acidic the environment in your mouth may be.
In the morning you might consume a single cup of coffee on your commute into work. You have an orange for a snack later in the morning followed up with pasta leftovers from dinner the night before. To get you through the afternoon energy lull you indulge in a sugary treat to get you to the 5’oclock hour.
On the commute home you snack on trail mix to satisfy your hunger pains until dinner. Before dinner, your teeth and gums have already spent the day soaking in an acidic environment which encourages the growth of bad bacteria, plaque buildup and dental decay.
Supplementing your diet with probiotic foods and beverages will feed the good bacteria in your oral cavity and provide your mouth with the weaponry it needs to prevent tooth decay.
Green Tea Benefits Oral Health Care
Unlike any other herbal tea, green tea has a natural compound known as catechins. Catechins are a type of polyphenol which is not only a micronutrient found in our diet but a powerful antioxidant. Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties that benefit both oral and overall health.
Studies have shown that those who consume 2 cups of green tea per day have lower levels of the bad LDL (low-density lipoprotein) as well as lower levels of total cholesterol. Green tea may reduce one’s risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 33% as well as prevent obesity.
Directly correlating tooth loss with cardiovascular complications, individuals with missing teeth were up to 76% more likely of developing a heart attack compared to those with most or all of their teeth.
An even more amazing study found that individuals who consumed tobacco products (both smoke and smokeless products) and drank green tea regularly had a lower risk of developing cancer than the tobacco users who did not consume the tea.
Stay Informed, Stay Healthy.