The Truth About Root Canals (Part 2)
Part 3 in the series: When Ignorance Isn't Bliss
With the knowledge that root canals can potentially cause systemic health problems, there is good reason to avoid them. However, there is no easy answer if one is suffering from a seriously decaying tooth. If there is a very deep cavity, you can’t simply ignore it! The alternative to root canal is extraction, which has its own slew of problems, and of course is not a very desirable procedure.
Hopefully the following suggestions will be helpful:
There is no way to perform a safe root canal. Although they seem to preserve the tooth, in truth this is an illusion. They simply preserve the dead shell of the tooth, which can come to harbor enough anaerobic bacteria to be a serious health concern. Anyone who values good health should avoid root canal treatment.
If your dentist tells you a root canal is warranted, get a second opinion. Believe it or not, the American Dental Association has actually set a quota, whereby they want their members to perform a minimum of 60 million root canals each year. (1) This has the potential to encourage unnecessary procedures.
Considering the potential consequences, don’t rush into a root canal or tooth extraction decision. Take the time to get informed first whenever possible.
If a tooth needs to be extracted, opt for a bridge rather than an implant to replace the tooth- it’s safer. Make sure to find out which materials will be used, and find out your options. Some dental materials are more hazardous than others. Don’t forget- it will be in your mouth for a long time, so the lower the toxicity the better.
For those who have already received root canal treatment, and especially if one is suffering from a chronic disease which may be associated with root canals, it is not a good idea to simply run and get them pulled. This too must be done with great care. Consider the following:
Tooth extraction must be performed with great care or it too can lead to health deterioration. Specifically it is important that the dentist is familiar with the proper method for removing the periodontal ligament safely, which if left behind during extraction can cause dire health consequences, according to the research of Dr. Hal Huggins, DDS. Therefore,
If you would like to ensure that dental care does not create devastating health outcomes, or if you would like to reverse disease that has already taken hold, find a trustworthy and experienced holistic or biological dentist who understands your needs for safer dental care.
Many dentists, with whom I have conversed, have remarked that the research and conclusions of Dr. Weston Price and Dr. Hal Huggins are mistaken and even that their work has been discredited by the ADA. They assert that root canals (and mercury fillings) have been proven safe. Nevertheless, I encourage dentists and laypeople to read up on the research that the ADA is criticizing, with an open-mind, and decide for themselves where the truth is found.
“Even today as the American Dental Association (ADA), insists that they have proved Mayo's and Dr. Price to be wrong. There is no research to support this claim, and none can be produced. Yet dentists are continually threatened with license revocation if they expose the truth about root canals or even suggest they may be dangerous.” (1)
While it may be easy to wipe away a century of evidence with some ADA clout, a more responsible approach is to view the research in-depth for oneself. Dentists, who were open-minded enough to consider the possibility that certain dental procedures are harmful, did not have to end their careers. On the contrary, dentists across the world took the opportunity to get training in cutting-edge and safe dental care. They have transformed their practices to encompass a more holistic approach and have been able to help improve the health of their patients.
Health Hazard Categories:
Easy to avoid; most people only use these products because they don’t know how harmful they are or that safer alternatives exist.
Not easy to avoid, yet their negative effects are so devastating, that they should be avoided even if doing so causes inconvenience.
Root canals definitely fall under the second category. Removing a root canal-treated tooth is no small matter, nor can tooth extraction be taken lightly. Nevertheless, root canals are likely to be one of the 20th/21st centuries’ greatest and most well-hidden health threats, and therefore should be avoided if longevity and good health are something that are important to you.
Next time, I will share important information about dental amalgams (a.k.a. “silver” fillings), which are comprised of 50% mercury, and what you can do to avoid mercury poisoning.
Yael Tusk, MSOM is a practitioner of Chinese Medicine in Jerusalem. For over a decade, she has been treating patients and researching healthcare. She is also trained in designing and evaluating scientific research. Look out for her upcoming book, “Health: A Natural Approach”.
References:
Hal Huggins, DDS, MS, Root Canals Contain Toxic Bacterium, https://www.hugginsappliedhealing.com/root-canals-toxic.php
Mark A. Breiner, DDS, CAVITATIONS - WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW TO TREAT THEM, April, 2010 http://wholebodymed.com/newsletter/cavitations-what-they-are-and-how-treat-them
Dr. Veronique Desaulniers, Root canals and breast cancer: The connection is clear, Natural Cancer Treatments, March 2015 http://www.naturalhealth365.com/root-canals-toxic-chemicals-bill-henderson-1337.html
Hal A. Huggins, It's All in Your Head: The Link Between Mercury Amalgams and Illness, Avery, 1993
