CLAIM

Root canals lead to breast cancer among women

FACT 

No scientific evidence to support this assertion

 A YouTube channel  The Skinny Confidential has put out a YouTube Short claiming there is a link between root canal and breast cancer. The video has got more than 18,00,000 views and over 56,000 likes.

Even otherwise, the claim has gained traction online, and the name of a certain individual,  Dr Thomas Rau is frequently mentioned, including in the video by The Skinny Confidential. 

Dr Rau, affiliated with the Paracelsus Clinic in Switzerland, has made claims about the connection between root canals and breast cancer. He reportedly analyzed records of breast cancer patients treated at his clinic and found that a significant percentage (98%) had 

undergone root canal treatments on the same meridian as their tumors. 

The meridians  refers to the idea from traditional Chinese medicine that the body has energy pathways, or meridians, which connect different organs and tissues. Proponents of this concept claim that dental issues, such as root canals, can affect specific organs or areas along the corresponding meridian.- 

 Rau's claims echo earlier theories proposed  in the early 20th century by Dr. Weston Price, who suggested that chronic diseases could stem from root canal treatments due to lingering bacteria and toxins. 

More recently, Dr. Robert Jones, a professor at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry,  claimed that his five year study showed 93% of women with breast cancer had undergone root canal therapy. 

So, what does the scientific evidence say

The Canadian Cancer Society has stated that no credible evidence links root canals to an increased risk of cancer.

The prevailing view among dental professionals and researchers is that root canals are safe procedures with no established connection to cancer. A comprehensive study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found no increased cancer risk associated with root canal treatments.  In fact, it suggested that individuals with multiple root canals might cut the risk of developing cancer by 45%.  

Moreover, while some studies have examined the presence of bacteria in root canals, they do not directly link these bacteria to development of cancer. 

The confusion surrounding this topic often arises from conflating correlation with causation. Just because many women diagnosed with breast cancer have had root canals does not imply that one causes the other. Factors such as overall health, genetic predisposition, and lifestyle choices play significant roles in cancer risk and must be considered when evaluating such claims.

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