Chronic infection of any kind can often be one of the underlying reasons for rosacea because with any infection that goes untreated, the body must constantly fight to keep you healthy. Oral infections are no exception.
When your body encounters an infection, a lot of your body’s energy will be focused on clearing out/containing that source. This often occurs with dental surgeries/extractions. Many patients have told me that their rosacea symptoms first appeared after a tooth extraction or root canal. Often when teeth are removed, complications can arise such as dry socket, nerve injury and disrupted sinus communication/infection. Sometimes tiny tooth chips can be left behind, also causing infection. If these are not dealt with, your immune system will become chronically taxed, and will be unable to fight viruses, allergens, pathogens, etc. effectively. This leads to chronic inflammation, which leads to rosacea.
Root canals are another common source problem which some dentists are finally starting to recognize as problematic. Root canals involve removing a decayed or infected tooth, where the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned out and sealed. Often the inside of the tooth is not cleaned out properly and bacteria remains, which is then placed back in the socket for the bacteria to proliferate. The problem is when the “dead” tooth is placed back in the mouth. If one of your fingers had frostbite and “died” you could not leave that finger attached to your body or it would poison your entire body. Some believe the same is true with root canals.
There are at least 5 ways a root canal can cause problems:
Infection inside or outside of the root canals
Extruded root canal filling causing an immune response
Accumulation of cholesterol crystals that irritate the tissues
Cystic lesion where the root canal is done
Scar tissue healing of the root canal site
Dr. Weston Price has done extensive testing on root canals and the bacteria that is left behind. One study tested the effectiveness of root canal cleaning procedures and found endotoxins and pathogenic bacteria in 100% of root canals. The cleaning procedures can clear up to 44% of these bacteria, but the bacteria always persist. According to Dr. Price, “many of these bacteria are naturally present in the mouth, but they only become a problem when we are infected with them. When they grow in the root canal, the anaerobic conditions inside the root canal can cause these bacteria to become more dangerous. In addition, the ecosystem of these bacteria can make them even more dangerous.”
Research consistently shows that infections of the mouth and teeth can cause systemic inflammation and disease throughout the entire body.
Dr. Price believes root canals can cause a host of medical issues ranging from heart disease to cancer. In my short time treating rosacea patients, I have already encountered three who told me their symptoms began shortly after a root canal. Coincidence? I doubt it. A holistic dentist can help by removing the infected tooth or decay and replacing it with a ceramic bridge or titanium post, which both appear to be better options than a root canal.