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Key Takeaways:
- Despite what you may have heard in holistic health circles, root canals are not toxic. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that root canals spread bacteria to the rest of your body.
- This myth—which in dentistry we call the focal infection theory—became popular in the first half of the 20th century, and it caused dentists to unnecessarily pull teeth in order to cure health issues in other parts of the body.
- Although the theory was debunked almost a century ago, misinformation about root canals being toxic persists even today. You can help combat this and other harmful misconceptions by becoming an informed patient.
Your mouth is more than just a smile—it’s the gateway to your entire body! Not only can the health of your mouth impact your overall well-being, but what’s going on in your mouth can actually signal that something’s wrong in another part of your body.
Basically, your mouth is deeply connected to the rest of your body’s systems, and this is just one of the many reasons why seeing our health as a whole—where every part influences the rest—makes so much sense. Have you ever felt so stressed that it left you physically tired, or noticed that a lingering illness made you feel down or depressed? These things happen because our bodies and minds are closely linked.
While the concept of holistic health is undoubtedly important in learning to care for our bodies, it has also led to some seriously harmful misconceptions, especially regarding dental health and root canals. One myth in particular—the idea that root canals are toxic— has been especially persistent, to the point of scaring patients from seeking the endodontic care they need. It comes from something called the focal infection theory (as we call it in dentistry), and it’s time we put an end to it!
Today, I want to clear up this mistruth by explaining what the focal infection theory is, how it became so prevalent, and why it’s 100% WRONG about root canals.
The Emergence of the Focal Infection Theory in Dentistry
The focal infection theory in dentistry gained popularity in the first half of the 20th century. The theory suggested that teeth treated with root canals could somehow release harmful toxins and bacteria into the body. These toxins could then cause serious health issues like arthritis, heart disease, and kidney and nervous system problems.
So what did dentists do?
They started pulling teeth! Lots of them. Whenever a patient would come in complaining of a health issue in another part of their body, doctors would start removing teeth in the hope that it would cure the problem. Talk about a facepalm moment!
The real kicker is that removing these teeth didn’t solve the original health problems at all. Instead, people ended up continuing to suffer from their original ailments—only now with fewer teeth in their mouths. It was far from an ideal situation, to say the least.
An Annoyingly Persistent Myth
Despite the fact that pulling teeth didn’t actually solve bigger health issues, this approach continued to gain traction thanks to the support of Dr. Weston Price, the research chairman of the American Dental Association at the time. Dr. Price was a researcher known primarily for groundbreaking studies comparing indigenous and western diets. Through this research, he found that the western diet contained nutritional deficiencies that were at the heart of many dental issues and health problems.
However, Dr. Price is also notorious for conducting flawed research earlier in his career which claimed that teeth that had undergone root canal treatment or were infected could cause a host of degenerative diseases.
I guess removing a tooth is an easier “fix” than tackling the complexities of a chronic disease, right?
Unfortunately, people believed the nonsense, and because of Dr. Price’s position of influence in dentistry, the focal infection theory continued to spread. Only now, with the benefit of hindsight, can we see that his research wasn’t reliable. But back then, there was no such understanding, and the idea took hold.
Setting the Record Straight
It wasn’t until the 1930s that clinicians, researchers, and other medical professionals started to question the focal infection theory in dentistry. Thanks to further research, including significant studies by Cecil and Angevine, the idea that extracting teeth could cure diseases was finally debunked. This shift in understanding led to the removal of the focal infection theory from dental and medical training. (Hallelujah!)
The quashing of this harmful myth also marked the rise of endodontics, a specialized branch of dentistry dedicated to saving teeth that might have otherwise been unnecessarily removed. As an endodontist myself, I’m particularly grateful for this pivotal moment in history!
Despite all this progress, we unfortunately haven’t seen the end of the focal infection theory. Misconceptions surrounding root canals persist today thanks to certain facets of the holistic health movement and misleading documentaries like Root Cause, which repeat the same misinformation that was discredited a century ago.
While the impact of these groups may seem insignificant in comparison to that of an organization like the American Dental Association, they’ve still managed to do a lot of harm. By spreading misinformation, they’ve caused people to develop such a fear of root canals that they opt to have their teeth extracted, which might not only be unnecessary but could also exacerbate their health issues.
Knowledge is Power
So, what can be done to combat the harmful misinformation perpetuated by the focal infection theory in dentistry? For dentists and endodontists like me, it’s our responsibility to correct these misconceptions when they arise by educating you—our patients—about what’s really going on when you get a root canal.
When you’re told you need a root canal, it’s because bacteria has found its way into your tooth and proliferated in a way that causes your mouth’s natural microbiome to go out of whack. The purpose of the root canal treatment is to correct this imbalance, setting you on the path to overall wellness.
In other words, root canals aren’t toxic at all—they’re the exact opposite! A well-done root canal can relieve your pain, save your tooth, regenerate bone, and enhance both your dental health and overall sense of well-being. What’s more, choosing to remove a tooth instead can actually lead to further issues, including deterioration of your jawbone, shifting teeth, difficulty chewing, speech and sinus problems, increased risk of infection and gum disease, and decreased confidence.
As a patient, you can do your job to combat misconceptions like the focal infection theory in dentistry by continuing to become as informed as you possibly can about your dental health. (You’re already doing a great job just by reading this article!) Armed with the right information, you can confidently question and counter any doubts about the safety and benefits of root canals, helping to drive the people you care about to seek the treatment they need.
One way you can deepen your knowledge and understanding is by enrolling in my Empower Patient course. Through video modules and downloadable resources, you’ll learn everything you need to know about root canals, choosing the right provider, and taking your dental health into your own hands.
– Sonia
