Root canals and breast cancer link

Rissaroo

Hello, I recently watched a documentary on netflix called Root Cause. It takes a look at the numerous health concerns they have linked to root canals. One of the heavy hitters being breast cancer. I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast cancer about a year ago. I had genetic testing done and they came back negative. I have no history of family cancer and ate healthy, organic foods and never had any health issues. I did however have a root canal in my early 20s. My root canal was done on the same side I developed breast cancer. I am curious to know if more women with breast cancer have also had root canals?

WC3

I've never had a root canal but they are pretty common. There are accounts of breast cancer that date back to antiquity when people just pulled bad teeth.

GAWarrior

I work in the dental field - this is an old theory that holistic dentists have been talking about for decades.

FWIW, I was diagnosed with triple negative last year and have never had a root canal, nor am I BRCA+ (all 27 gene mutations they tested were negative) and I have no family history of BC. I was super-healthy before this (rarely got a cold, no prior surgeries or health conditions of any type). Heck, I ran a marathon a month before I found my lump! I've tried to figure out what caused this and have come to the conclusion that sometimes there just is no reason for getting something - it just "is".

Also, like WC3 said, BC dates back to antiquity when people just had bad teeth pulled and there was no such thing as a root canal. Or GMO foods, processed foods, chemicals, pesticides, etc. I truly wish I knew what caused this because I sure would avoid whatever it is from now on!

Rissaroo

Thank you for your reply! That is exactly why I posted this I was curious to see if other women had heard about this and/or if there is some substance to this theory.

Debbs74

I am a dental assistant and had a diagnosis of breast cancer the end of 2016, tnbc stage2 a....I do have a genetic predisposition, the gene in palb2 partner and localizer of brca2..it's coming from my mom, she never developed breast cancer, I think sanitizing the dental instruments with chemicals could have Triggered my breast cancer....but as far as root canals, I do not think that is a contributing factor.... I personally never had a root canal... but chemicals, Definitely could have had a contributing factor.....

MelissaDallas

I have not seen one single reliable or authoritative medical source that backs up the root canal (or fillings) theory.

buttonsmachine

I'm just speculating, but there has been some recent evidence that inflammation from chronic gum disease is a contributing factor for breast cancer. Could the root canal issue be a conflation of correlation and causation? :-)

I had a root canal on my right, and also got bc on my right. I never attributed bc to the root canal, but I have wondered if it had something to do with my being prone to gum disease. Who knows.

See: https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/gum-disease-may-be-linked-to-higher-risk

AliceBastable

I had a root canal on the lower left in the 1980s and developed BC in the left breast in 2018. Ooh, must be the cause! Not. It's ridiculous.

Many years ago, a co-worker wore a leather band on his wrist - this was so long ago, it was before guys wore anything but basic jewelry. When I asked about it, he said it was a bear-scarer. I looked puzzled, and he explained that there weren't any bears around, so it must work.

I apply the bear-scarer test to any claim with faulty logic.

exbrnxgrl

Alicebastable,

I love that way of looking at faulty logic

pingpong1953

buttonsmachine, that theory about chronic gum inflammation causing breast cancer is interesting. Ironically, my gums were fine until I had chemo and now that I'm taking letrozole they're really causing problems! Leave it to me to get it backwards!

ceanna

Interesting about the gum inflammation. Wondering if there's ever been any discussion about a salivary gland stone and infection?

SummerAngel

I've taken great care of my teeth and gums nearly my entire life - never miss a brushing, flossing, or a professional cleaning. No root canals, no gum disease. I know that gum disease can cause other issues, but I really doubt there is a connection. Typically those with bad gum disease don't take very good care of themselves in other ways.

ksusan

There's a demonstrated association between gum disease and some medical problems. It isn't demonstrated for breast cancer. It is not the only route to winding up with other medical problems, and it does not inevitably lead to other problems. The idea that there are absolute 1-to-1 correspondences is too simplistic and reductive.

marijen

There’s a documentary on Netflix called Root Cause and it mentions breast cancer. It’s new. I had a root cal on the same side very close to my bc. It still bothers me day in and day out. Like a stone in my mouth.

AliceBastable

Anything can be called a documentary, even if it's about Martians or some other crazy topic. Netflix isn't exactly PBS.

Rissaroo

I simply was asking other women if they had heard anything about a potential connection. When you are 33 and diagnosed with a super aggressive breast cancer when it doesn't run in the family and you eat healthy and take care of yourself I don't really believe it is crazy to leave any stone unturned looking for potential risk factors or reasons. I really hope you do not spend the rest of your life being rude, bitter and condescending.

yellowdoglady

Debs74, you raise an interesting question. I have no family BC or cancer history at all, but developed TNBC at age 48. Just one of the lucky 1 in 8 who won the reverse lottery, right? But I spent literally years of my life working in my Dad's photo lab. With chemicals. Lots of chemicals. We didn't wear gloves, but often used tongs. If the projects were large scale, we used our hands. Usually, they were. 20 x 40 and 40 x 60 prints, that we'd then mount with spray adhesive. My three sisters refused to help out, and all are well. My Dad died of cancer five years before my diagnosis. He told me when he went Stage IV that all of the darkroom equipment was mine. I said I didn't want it because it might have killed him. Then it might have killed me.

mmbNaplesFL

I am curious to know if any of you who responded to this query have bothered to watch the movie before commenting.

I ask because I did watch it. NOTE: it's no longer on Netflix as the ADA successfully lobbied them to remove it but it is on YouTube so please watch it.

I only watched the movie last night but I had already begun my serious commitment to regain my strength and get rid of my post masectomy pain syndrome. My husband found a doctor in Dallas TX and in Nov 2018 we went for a consultation and I started a treatment plan. His name is Jerry Tennant and you can find his story on YouTube also.

This past month, I travelled back to Dallas to have two root canal teeth removed.

Between the protocol prescribed by the Tennant Institute and have the root canal teeth removed, my health has returned by about 85%. Pain is GONE. I have way more energy and can actually have a life now. I still feel some irritating soreness and pulling in my BC side, but I had a very complicated surgery that involved my bracial nerve and it was very invasive.

PT has helped a lot in restoring a more normal physique. My therapist was trained in the PoRi method, in Denver CO and I feel very grateful that she is here in little Napes FL, the only PT of her type in the state. Medicare covers my visits.

Before these latest changes, one year post treatments (chemotherapy, surgery and radiation over a 9 month time period) I felt like my life was ruined and was worried that I would never feel better. I was just not getting any better. A year is a long time to not gain back any strength

If you don't want to have these teeth removed, I fully understand, but you should be fully informed before you make that decision,

PS for some reason the radiation I put in my profile never shows up. I had 34 sessions in a 6 week time period that included Hurricane Irma interruption.

MelissaDallas

There is no link between root canal and breast cancer, except that people with breasts also have teeth.

My LCIS is on the same side I broke my arm as a kid. I don’t think broken arms cause breast cancer either

AliceBastable

MelissaDallas ❤❤❤

mmbNaplesFL

would be good if someone did a simple survey

Yes had root canal.

Yes same side. OR No, different side.

No root canal.

NancyHB

Correlation does not equal causation, though. I’ve had root canals (both sides, cancer only on left), I’m left handed, I fractured my left humerus as a child, I smoked, I drank wine, I ate sugar...the list goes on. But honestly the biggest contributing factor to my breast cancer? I’m a woman. And even then - correlation does not equal causation.

My three dear friends who are battling aggressive BC - none have had root canals, and two have never even had a cavity. So - how does that work?

SummerAngel

Here's a related Snopes article: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/root-canal-cance...

There is no causative factor between the two.