An increasing amount of scientific evidence continues to validate concerns that oral health is significantly correlated with systemic, total body health. Unjustly known in the conventional medical community for his seemingly outrageous medical ideas and research in dentistry, Dr. Weston Price understood well the dangers of root canals and their link to chronic systemic disease before the World Health Organization (WHO) began to even question the relationship between oral health and whole body function.
In fact, it is believed today that root canals can serve as the primary sites of infection that seep into other tissues in the body, causing lowered immunity and chronic disease. Is it possible that your root canal could 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. A root canal procedure involves drilling into the tooth so that the nerve and dental decay can be removed. Here’s a little animation if you’re more the visual type.
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 the notion that root canals can cause major health risks isn’t backed up with enough scientific evidence. Unfortunately, it is true that there are currently no accurate tests showing that root canals are without a doubt the cause of any specific health problems. However, just because a suspect tossed the gun does not mean he did not pull the trigger.
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 findings from over 100 years ago that these infective agents are secluded in up to 3 miles of microscopic tubules of the tooth and gums, which remain 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 the 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 dentists 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.
As a result, until the anaerobic bacteria are removed and toxins are eliminated, an individual’s systemic or whole body functioning is susceptible to compromise. A recent study indicates that 87% of patients whose health conditions were monitored for three years following a root canal procedure experienced deteriorating health symptoms.
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.
A voice for change in the dental community, Dr. George Meinig, commented 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.
The fact of the matter is, root canals give bacteria a little home in your head where they aren’t subject to the normal processes of immunity. They can come out, have a battle with your immune system, lose, and retreat back to the dead tooth to regrow and attack again. After a while, your immune system is exhausted.
As we always like to provide solutions to the problems we raise, here’s an article we wrote about oil pulling, and here’s a radio show we recorded about oral health in general. Should be some good info in both of these. And for people needing the services of a dentist, consult this website when making your choice.
Dr. Aaron Ernst, D.C. is host of News Talk 1110 WBT’s “AskDrErnst” show and clinic director of Maximized Living Charlotte.
He specializes in providing customized nutritional and detoxification total body healing programs, utilizing the 5 Essentials of Maximized Living.