Dental treatment has long-term benefits for the entire body, a new study has confirmed.

In patients who are successfully treated for root canal infections, their blood sugar levels drop significantly within two years. This suggests that eliminating pathogenic bacteria from the body may help protect against type 2 diabetes.

There was also an improvement in the levels of cholesterol and fatty acids in the blood of patients, which is associated with cardiovascular health. In addition, positive changes were recorded in inflammation, which can lead to cardiovascular and other chronic diseases.

“Oral health is related to the overall health of the body. We should not view our teeth or dental conditions as something separate,” says Sadia Niazi, senior clinical lecturer in endodontology at King’s College London.

Root canal treatment is one of the most common and perhaps most frightening dental procedures, although most fears are based on imperfect anesthesia that has sunk into the past and is no longer relevant. This treatment is performed to eliminate infection or damage to the dental pulp, the soft inner tissue containing nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue.

According to the 2024 Public Health Survey, than a third of adults in England have had root canal treatment, with the figure rising to 50% among people aged 55 to 74 years. than 15 million of these procedures are performed annually in the United States.

Researchers followed 65 patients at a London hospital for two years after root canal treatment, the results of which were shared in Journal of Translational Medicine. Participants had molecular blood tests taken before treatment and four times after.

Significant changes were detected in than half of the blood molecules analyzed. Short-term improvements were noted in fat metabolism and long-term improvements in blood sugar levels. Markers of inflammation, which causes many chronic diseases, decreased after dental surgery.

“This is not just about treating one tooth. This has long-term benefits for the patient’s overall health, especially reducing the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. People must understand that the oral cavity is the main gateway to overall health, so taking care of oral health, regular dental checkups and timely treatment of diseases is the best strategy,” concludes Niazi.

These findings are especially important for global health because chronic dental infections often go untreated. According to the World Health Organization, 3.7 billion people in the world live with untreated oral diseases. Given the widespread impact of dental infections on health, dental care should be integrated into the patient’s overall health care system, the researcher concluded.