If you have put off a root canal, you may want to schedule this appointment. That’s because new evidence suggests it could have protective health effects that go far beyond your mouth.
“Our research shows that treating an infected tooth does much more than relieve pain. It can improve your overall health,” says lead author Sadia Niazi, PhDclinical lecturer in endodontics (the study of what’s inside the teeth) at King’s College London.
Why oral health matters for heart and metabolic health
The mouth is home to a rich community of bacteria. While some help keep you healthy, others can cause tooth decay, gum disease, and infection. When an infection develops inside a tooth, the bacteria responsible can sometimes enter the bloodstream.
The study looked at blood samples taken before and after root canals
The study included 65 adults treated at a dental hospital in England. At the start of the trial, none had diabetes, heart disease or metabolic syndrome (a group of risk factors such as obesity and high blood pressure that increase the risk of heart attack and stroke).
Participants had blood drawn before the root canal and again at three months, six months, one year and two years later. The researchers analyzed these blood samples using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, a very precise method for studying blood metabolites – molecules that reflect how the body processes sugar, fat and other nutrients.
The researchers focused on more than 40 biomarkers linked to cardiometabolic risk, including:
- Blood sugar levels and blood sugar control
- Cholesterol and fatty acids
- Inflammatory markers linked to heart disease and chronic disease
The study compared each person to themselves over a two-year period using what is called a “self-controlled” study design. This allows each participant to serve as their own comparison over time, rather than comparing one group of people to another. This helps reduce the impact of differences between individuals, such as age, health status or lifestyle.
Root canals led to improvements in blood sugar, cholesterol and inflammation
Blood samples revealed significant metabolic improvements after successful root canal treatment during the follow-up period, including:
- Better blood sugar control Participants had significantly lower glucose levels two years after treatment, which translates into a lower risk of diabetes.
- Healthier cholesterol Short-term improvements were reported in cholesterol and fatty acids, which affect heart health.
- Lower Inflammation Indicators related to heart disease and other chronic conditions declined over time.
Combined, this is evidence of a whole-body effect, says Dr. Niazi.
“Oral bacteria from infected teeth can disrupt metabolism, showing how oral health affects the entire body. This is a major shift in thinking. Root canal treatment is not just about saving teeth. it’s about protecting long-term health,” he says.
These findings are consistent with existing evidence that poor oral health is associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome, he says Eleanor Levin, MDclinical professor of cardiovascular medicine at Stanford Medicine in California.
“The common link is inflammation, and this adds to the evidence that reducing inflammation improves metabolic disease,” says Dr. Levin, who was not involved in the study.
“A root canal reduces inflammation by removing the site of dental infection,” he says.
Dental care is much more than a cosmetic concern
“Early diagnosis and treatment of root canal infections—symptomatic or asymptomatic—is essential to reduce [chronic] disease risks,” says Niazi.
It’s a two-way street, says Levin. Chronic gum disease may increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. At the same time, a weakened immune response due to metabolic syndrome can reduce oral health, he says.
“Both problems share risk factors such as a diet high in sugar, [being] being overweight, smoking and being sedentary,” says Levin.
Levin’s tips for reducing the risk of dental inflammation and chronic disease:
