Someone forwarded you an article online claiming root canals cause cancer. Maybe a relative mentioned it at a family gathering. It sounded alarming — and now you are wondering whether to believe it.

You are right to question it. This claim has been circulating in various forms for over a century, and it keeps getting revived online. Here is what the evidence actually shows — and why the myth persists despite being thoroughly debunked.

The idea that root canals cause systemic disease dates back to the early 1900s, largely based on a discredited theory by Dr. Weston Price. His research was methodologically flawed — he used contaminated samples and did not use control groups. Subsequent researchers have thoroughly dismantled his conclusions, but the myth survived.

In recent decades, the claim has been repackaged with new language — swapping "heart disease" for "cancer" as the boogeyman — but it is the same fundamental misunderstanding. Social media has given it fresh legs, because fear-based content travels faster than fact-checks.

There is no credible scientific evidence linking root canal treatment to cancer or any other systemic disease. This has been confirmed repeatedly by major health organisations including the American Heart Association, the American Dental Association, and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

Multiple large studies have compared cancer rates between people who have had root canals and those who have not. None have found a statistically significant increased risk. A 2012 study in JAMA Otolaryngology actually found lower cancer rates in patients who had had root canals. While that does not mean root canals prevent cancer, it certainly does not support the opposite claim.

The appeal of the myth is understandable. A root canal removes an infected or inflamed nerve from a tooth, seals the canal, and covers it with a crown. It is a procedure that can feel invasive — and any invasive medical procedure can seem frightening if you do not understand it.

The myth also feeds into a broader distrust of conventional medicine and a preference for "natural" approaches. That emotional context makes it harder for factual corrections to land.

During a root canal, the infected or dead nerve tissue is removed from inside the tooth. The canal is then thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and sealed to prevent re-infection. This eliminates pain, stops the spread of infection, and saves a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted.

Without the procedure, the infection can spread to the jawbone, enter the bloodstream, or require extraction of the tooth. These are real, documented risks. The much-discussed risks of root canal treatment, by contrast, are not supported by evidence.

Root canal treatment is one of the most studied and safest procedures in dentistry. If your dentist has recommended one, it is because the alternative — leaving an infected tooth untreated — carries genuine, well-documented risks. The claim that root canals cause cancer is a myth with no basis in scientific research.

If you have questions about any dental procedure, your dentist is the best person to ask. Get in touch to discuss your concerns.

Call 01323 723757 or book at www.meadsdental.com

Meads Village Dental Practice