A video of a breast cancer patient’s oral x-ray has gone viral on TikTok, gaining nearly 5 million views.
Dr. Michelle Jorgensen, a dentist and board-certified holistic health practitioner, shared Melissa Jacobsen’s scan online (@living well with drmichael), showing two infected root canals that have since been removed.
Jorgensen, based in Utah, said Newsweek: “Infected teeth don’t cause cancer—but they can make it much harder for your body to fight it.
“The tragedy is that most people never connect the dots between oral infections and their overall health. The mouth is not separate from the body—it’s the gateway. When we clean up what’s going on there, we often see the whole system begin to heal.”
Indeed, the mouth provides important clues to overall health, and oral problems are closely linked to many long-term illnesses, according to a study conducted by researchers at Sichuan University in China.
A cancer diagnosis and a hidden infection
Jacobsen, 43, a homemaker and mother of six, said Newsweek was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), the most common type of breast cancer. The American Cancer Society says that about 80 percent of all these cancers are IDC.
After a blood test revealed signs of infection in Jacobsen’s bloodstream, her physical therapist recommended a dental evaluation. Advanced imaging later showed that both of her root canal-treated teeth were abscessed, with “big black pockets” of infection underneath.
The teeth were extracted on October 13th. After the procedure, her oral surgeon said it was “a good thing” they removed them, as the infection was even more extensive than the imaging indicated.
Jacobsen said, “My body responded well to having the teeth removed; actually, I think it was grateful to have them out.”
How oral infections can affect the immune system
Jacobsen said Newsweek that, prior to her diagnosis, she had occasionally noticed a subtle “bloated,” almost “squeezed” sensation in the gums below one of her root canals. But because she experienced no pain, she attributed it to nighttime teeth grinding and inflammation from clenching.
Jorgensen said, “Most people have no idea there’s an infection in their mouth. After a root canal, the nerve in the tooth is gone, so there’s no pain to warn you that something’s wrong. The tooth may look fine, but underneath, it may be harboring bacteria and toxins that are quietly leaking into the bloodstream.”
Newsweek contacted Richard Miller-White, a UK-based dentist with over 30 years of experience, who explained that cancer patients are more vulnerable to bacterial, viral or fungal infections.
“The chance of infections increases with more advanced cancer diagnosis and with the intensity of treatment,” Miller-White said. “Oral infections don’t usually shut down the immune system, but they can compromise it.
“A chronic dental abscess or gum infection is constantly affecting your immune system and this can cause your immune system to become depleted and possibly make it less able to fight off other diseases.”
Miller-White added that inflammation in the mouth can cause inflammation elsewhere in the body. Gingivitis, for example, allows bacteria and inflammatory chemicals to enter the bloodstream.
Miller-White stressed the importance of a balanced diet, good oral hygiene, proper sleep and regular dental care to reduce infection and support immune health.
Correction 24/11/25, 04:35 AM ET: This story has been corrected to remove the Doctor from Richard Miller-White’s title.
