Can A Tooth Infection Raise The Risk Of Diabetes, Heart Disease? New Study Warns On Oral Health

Last Updated:November 21, 2025, 10:47 IST

Many people opt for painkillers to treat a tooth infection. A UK research found that those who underwent a root canal saw improvements in their cholesterol and blood sugar levels

When most people think of dental problems, they imagine cavities, toothache, or maybe an overdue cleaning. Rarely does anyone connect an infected tooth with cholesterol, blood sugar levels, or an increased risk of heart disease. But a recent medical study from the UK is challenging how people view oral health, and its findings could be significant for India.

The study in the Journal of Translational Medicine is published by BioMed Central in London, England, focused on a condition called apical periodontitis — a chronic infection at the root of the tooth. This infection often develops silently, sometimes with mild or occasional pain. Many people delay treatment, opting for painkillers or ignoring it altogether. But when 65 patients with this infection underwent root canal treatment and were re-examined after two years, researchers found something surprising: not only had their dental health improved, but so had several key markers linked to heart disease and diabetes.

Their cholesterol levels improved, inflammation markers dropped, and blood sugar control got better — all without any major changes in their medication or lifestyle.

While the study did not prove that dental infections cause heart disease or diabetes, it strongly suggested that untreated oral infections could worsen chronic metabolic and cardiovascular conditions, and that treating these infections may help improve overall health.

Does that mean that the road to better heart and metabolic health begin at the dentist’s chair?

How Can A Tooth Infection Impact Your Heart Or Blood Sugar?

Apical periodontitis is caused by a bacterial infection deep in the tooth, which leads to inflammation at the root. Unlike a common toothache, this type of infection does not always produce intense pain and can remain undiagnosed for months. The real problem begins when bacteria from this infected tooth enter the bloodstream.

Once these bacteria and toxins circulate in the blood, they trigger chronic inflammation. The body begins releasing inflammatory chemicals that impact blood vessels, hormone balance, and metabolic systems. This process can increase insulin resistance, make blood sugar harder to control, and even promote plaque formation in arteries, raising the risk of heart disease.

In simple terms, what starts as a tiny tooth infection can quietly add stress to the entire body, damaging the heart, the liver, and even the immune system.

Why This Means For Indians’ Dental Health

India is at the crossroads of two growing health crises — poor dental health and rising chronic diseases. The country has over 101 million people living with diabetes, with an additional 136 million in the prediabetes stage, according to a 2023 ICMR-INDIAB study. Heart disease is responsible for nearly one-third of all deaths in the country, according to the latest data presented by the Sample Registration Survey under the Registrar General of India.

At the same time, studies suggest that 35–45% of Indian adults have untreated dental infections, including silent infections like apical periodontitis. Yet, most people only visit a dentist for pain relief, not preventive care.

India’s oral health often gets sidelined in primary healthcare, and most insurance schemes, including government programmes like Ayushman Bharat, do not cover root canal treatments or dental infection management. This means a major piece of the preventive healthcare system is missing.

Dentistry And Medicine: Should They Work Together?

For years, dentists have pointed out the connection between oral bacteria and systemic diseases, especially heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes. But medical specialists such as cardiologists, diabetologists, and general physicians rarely integrate dental checks into routine screenings.

The new findings offer a reason to change that. If a simple root canal treatment can support better metabolic and heart health, should dental care become a standard part of preventive healthcare?

Doctors increasingly argue that dentists should not be limited to oral care; they should be partners in managing long-term diseases.

Some public health experts believe that workplaces, insurance firms, and even government health camps should begin including basic dental infection screenings alongside blood pressure and sugar tests.

India’s Dental Divide: Who Has Access?

Dental care remains highly unequal across the country. Major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru have specialised clinics, endodontists, and cosmetic surgery centres, but for most of Tier-2 and Tier-3 India, dental access is poor.

While urban residents may opt for root canal treatment, people in smaller cities or rural areas still depend on tooth extractions, home remedies, or simply ignoring infections.

And yet, chronic untreated infections are exactly the kind that can cause systemic inflammation — the kind linked to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Could Treating Dental Infections Save Healthcare Costs?

Preventive dental care is actually far more cost-effective than treating chronic diseases that develop over the years.

A root canal may cost between Rs 4,000 and Rs 8,000 for most people, but treating a heart attack can cost Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, not to mention long-term medication, rehabilitation, and loss of income.

Economists argue that early infection control could help reduce the long-term burden on India’s healthcare system. However, this would require a policy shift, including dental care in public health schemes, expanding insurance cover, and treating oral health as integral to full-body health.

But What Are the Limitations Of The UK Study?

The findings are promising, but they are not a final verdict. This UK-based study had only 65 patients, and there was no untreated control group. It did not prove that dental infections directly cause heart disease or diabetes — only that treating them is associated with improvements in key metabolic markers.

The study was conducted on a UK population with different diets, hygiene, and healthcare access. Indian-specific research will be crucial to confirm these links. However, even with limitations, the findings align with an emerging scientific belief: Inflammation is the hidden engine of chronic disease, and dental infections are one of the most overlooked sources of inflammation.

So, Should You Worry About That Toothache?

Not every toothache will lead to chronic disease. But ignoring dental infections, especially silent ones, could have consequences far beyond your mouth.

Signs that an oral infection may be affecting your overall health include:

• Recurring tooth pain or swelling

• Fluctuations in blood pressure or sugar levels

• High inflammation markers like CRP (C-Reactive Protein)

If you have diabetes, hypertension, heart concerns, or autoimmune conditions, regular dental check-ups may soon become essential, not just optional.

What To Conclude?

For decades, healthcare has been split into compartments — heart for cardiologists, diabetes for endocrinologists, and teeth for dentists. But growing evidence shows that these walls must come down.

What begins in the mouth does not stay there. The infection travels. Inflammation spreads. And health risks quietly build.

As one dental-health expert noted, “The mouth is not a separate part of the body. It’s the front door to your health system.”

The next time you think of delaying that root canal or ignoring that swelling, remember: it may not just be about saving a tooth, it might be about protecting your heart.

Shilpy Bisht

Shilpy Bisht, Deputy News Editor at News18, writes and edits national, world and business stories. She started off as a print journalist, and then transitioned to online, in her 12 years of experience. Her prev…Read More

Shilpy Bisht, Deputy News Editor at News18, writes and edits national, world and business stories. She started off as a print journalist, and then transitioned to online, in her 12 years of experience. Her prev… Read More

The study in the Journal of Translational Medicine is published by BioMed Central in London, England, focused on a condition called apical periodontitis — a chronic infection at the root of the tooth. This infection often develops silently, sometimes with mild or occasional pain. Many people delay treatment, opting for painkillers or ignoring it altogether. But when 65 patients with this infection underwent root canal treatment and were re-examined after two years, researchers found something surprising: not only had their dental health improved, but so had several key markers linked to heart disease and diabetes.

Their cholesterol levels improved, inflammation markers dropped, and blood sugar control got better — all without any major changes in their medication or lifestyle.

While the study did not prove that dental infections cause heart disease or diabetes, it strongly suggested that untreated oral infections could worsen chronic metabolic and cardiovascular conditions, and that treating these infections may help improve overall health.

Does that mean that the road to better heart and metabolic health begin at the dentist’s chair?

How Can A Tooth Infection Impact Your Heart Or Blood Sugar?

Apical periodontitis is caused by a bacterial infection deep in the tooth, which leads to inflammation at the root. Unlike a common toothache, this type of infection does not always produce intense pain and can remain undiagnosed for months. The real problem begins when bacteria from this infected tooth enter the bloodstream.

Once these bacteria and toxins circulate in the blood, they trigger chronic inflammation. The body begins releasing inflammatory chemicals that impact blood vessels, hormone balance, and metabolic systems. This process can increase insulin resistance, make blood sugar harder to control, and even promote plaque formation in arteries, raising the risk of heart disease.

In simple terms, what starts as a tiny tooth infection can quietly add stress to the entire body, damaging the heart, the liver, and even the immune system.

Why This Means For Indians’ Dental Health

India is at the crossroads of two growing health crises — poor dental health and rising chronic diseases. The country has over 101 million people living with diabetes, with an additional 136 million in the prediabetes stage, according to a 2023 ICMR-INDIAB study. Heart disease is responsible for nearly one-third of all deaths in the country, according to the latest data presented by the Sample Registration Survey under the Registrar General of India.

At the same time, studies suggest that 35–45% of Indian adults have untreated dental infections, including silent infections like apical periodontitis. Yet, most people only visit a dentist for pain relief, not preventive care.

India’s oral health often gets sidelined in primary healthcare, and most insurance schemes, including government programmes like Ayushman Bharat, do not cover root canal treatments or dental infection management. This means a major piece of the preventive healthcare system is missing.

Dentistry And Medicine: Should They Work Together?

For years, dentists have pointed out the connection between oral bacteria and systemic diseases, especially heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes. But medical specialists such as cardiologists, diabetologists, and general physicians rarely integrate dental checks into routine screenings.

The new findings offer a reason to change that. If a simple root canal treatment can support better metabolic and heart health, should dental care become a standard part of preventive healthcare?

Doctors increasingly argue that dentists should not be limited to oral care; they should be partners in managing long-term diseases.

Some public health experts believe that workplaces, insurance firms, and even government health camps should begin including basic dental infection screenings alongside blood pressure and sugar tests.

India’s Dental Divide: Who Has Access?

Dental care remains highly unequal across the country. Major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru have specialised clinics, endodontists, and cosmetic surgery centres, but for most of Tier-2 and Tier-3 India, dental access is poor.

While urban residents may opt for root canal treatment, people in smaller cities or rural areas still depend on tooth extractions, home remedies, or simply ignoring infections.

And yet, chronic untreated infections are exactly the kind that can cause systemic inflammation — the kind linked to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Could Treating Dental Infections Save Healthcare Costs?

Preventive dental care is actually far more cost-effective than treating chronic diseases that develop over the years.

A root canal may cost between Rs 4,000 and Rs 8,000 for most people, but treating a heart attack can cost Rs 2 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, not to mention long-term medication, rehabilitation, and loss of income.

Economists argue that early infection control could help reduce the long-term burden on India’s healthcare system. However, this would require a policy shift, including dental care in public health schemes, expanding insurance cover, and treating oral health as integral to full-body health.

But What Are the Limitations Of The UK Study?

The findings are promising, but they are not a final verdict. This UK-based study had only 65 patients, and there was no untreated control group. It did not prove that dental infections directly cause heart disease or diabetes — only that treating them is associated with improvements in key metabolic markers.

The study was conducted on a UK population with different diets, hygiene, and healthcare access. Indian-specific research will be crucial to confirm these links. However, even with limitations, the findings align with an emerging scientific belief: Inflammation is the hidden engine of chronic disease, and dental infections are one of the most overlooked sources of inflammation.

So, Should You Worry About That Toothache?

Not every toothache will lead to chronic disease. But ignoring dental infections, especially silent ones, could have consequences far beyond your mouth.

Signs that an oral infection may be affecting your overall health include:

• Recurring tooth pain or swelling

• Fluctuations in blood pressure or sugar levels

• High inflammation markers like CRP (C-Reactive Protein)

If you have diabetes, hypertension, heart concerns, or autoimmune conditions, regular dental check-ups may soon become essential, not just optional.

What To Conclude?

For decades, healthcare has been split into compartments — heart for cardiologists, diabetes for endocrinologists, and teeth for dentists. But growing evidence shows that these walls must come down.

What begins in the mouth does not stay there. The infection travels. Inflammation spreads. And health risks quietly build.

As one dental-health expert noted, “The mouth is not a separate part of the body. It’s the front door to your health system.”

The next time you think of delaying that root canal or ignoring that swelling, remember: it may not just be about saving a tooth, it might be about protecting your heart.

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