Many people have dental problems that require them to have root canal treatment, a procedure used to remove infected or inflamed pulp from inside the tooth. It is the process of cleaning and disinfecting the area and sealing it, The procedure gets rid of the bacterial infection, prevents re-infection and helps to save the natural tooth. There are millions of people treated per year under this procedure, however, many have wondered if root canals can lead to heart attacks. Let’s take a closer look at the facts.

The first thing to note is that a root canal in itself is not the cause for a heart attack. The scientific research does not show evidence of heart attacks or cardiovascular events linked to a root canal procedure. In fact root canals are intended to get rid of infection in a tooth, fairly reducing other health concerns like cardiovascular events. The adverse events really come not just from getting root canals but abandoning dental infections.

The research indicates a significant relationship between poor oral health and heart disease, particularly periodontitis (severe gum infection). Chronic oral inflammation can lead to heart attacks and other heart diseases. In these neglected cases, harmful bacteria thrive in untreated infections and bacterial agents can enter the blood stream and will create further inflammation in blood vessels, which can lead to heart issues.

During the root canal, the infected pulp and bacteria are removed. If handled properly and successfully, the infection is completely eradicated, and the risk of this bacteria spreading to other areas in the body is diminished. However, if the infection is not entirely cleaned, or the dental procedure was delayed, these bacteria can then enter the bloodstream and invoke inflammatory reactions in the body that can be harmful to the cardiovascular system.

Patients with a heart condition, artificial heart valves, and a compromised immune system are more susceptible to complications such as infective endocarditis, which means that bacteria can enter into the bloodstream and infect the heart’s inner lining caused by bacteria from the mouth. Consequently, the provider may prescribe antibiotics before these procedures, including root canals, to account for the increased risk.

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In brief, root canals are an important dental treatment that eliminates dental infections, which if left untreated can increase the chances of heart disease. Most importantly, it is clear that good dental hygiene impacts your heart. The point we want to emphasize is that a root canal will save your tooth and possibly decrease a patient’s risk for serious health issues, not contribute to it!

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