A viral dental X-ray has renewed medical discussion around how oral health intersects with cancer care, particularly the role of infections and inflammation during cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Michelle Jorgensen, DDS, a dentist in Utah, shared Jacobsen’s x-ray scan online, showing two infected root canals.
According to Newsweek, before Jacobsen’s cancer diagnosis, she had occasionally noticed a subtle, painless, "puffy," almost "squishy" feeling in the gum beneath one of her root canals. After she was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), the most common type of breast cancer, and a blood test revealed signs of infection in her bloodstream, her naturopath doctor suggested a dental checkup. Advanced imaging showed both of her root-canal-treated teeth were infected and had abscesses beneath them. After extracting the teeth on October 13, the oral surgeon remarked the infection was even more extensive than imaging indicated.
This viral video put the spotlight back on what dentists have been trying to tell the world for a long time — the mouth, as the gateway to the body, is a critical indicator of overall health, and is inextricably linked to chronic disorders. Neglecting oral health can worsen localized pathologies and speed up the progression of the chronic conditions. Conversely, their effective management can reduce the incidence and mortality associated with these chronic illnesses.[1]
Mounting evidence links gum disease and chronic diseases such as heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, and diabetes. During gum disease, oral bacteria and their toxins enter the bloodstream directly, impacting other organs. Recent studies have also uncovered a direct oral-gut axis, where oral bacteria can move to the gut, influencing gut microbes and metabolism.[2]
Interestingly, a two-way relationship is seen in illnesses like diabetes, where blood glucose control is improved by maintaining oral hygiene. On the flip side, worsening oral hygiene hikes up blood sugar levels. MedBound Times contacted Dr. Vidya Vaidya, MDS (Prosthodontics), ex-Professor at MCDRC (Durg, India), with 20 years of teaching experience and a private practitioner in Durg since 23 years, who remarked, “In our clinical practice, we have helped diagnose patients who were unaware that their teeth were loose from bone loss in their jaws due to diabetes mellitus.”
Dr. Vidya Vaidya added, “There are published reports of cases of acute bacterial endocarditis (a bacterial infection of the inner lining or valves of the heart), which in many instances, were related to dental infection.” People with oral disease are at higher risk for stroke, heart attack, and serious cardiovascular events. Conversely, a significant number of CVD (cardiovascular disease) patients present with poorer oral hygiene and a lower number of remaining teeth than normal.[3]
But is the mouth serving as a reservoir for microbes linked to cancer risk? Research suggests associations, but the relationship is complex. Certain oncogenic microbes, such as Helicobacter pylori, are primarily gastric pathogens and are best known for their role in stomach cancer. While H. pylori DNA has been detected in the oral cavity, its presence in the mouth does not mean dental infections cause cancer. Rather, oral disease may reflect broader inflammatory or microbial imbalances that coexist with systemic cancer risk.
Importantly, dental caries or periodontal disease do not directly cause cancer. Current evidence supports association and shared risk pathways, not direct causation.
It is seen to work both ways: chronic infections and inflammation may increase cancer risk, while cancer treatment itself predisposes patients to infections. Cancer Research (UK) stresses that many cancer treatments, especially chemotherapy and radiation, can damage the bone marrow and lower the number of white blood cells (specifically neutrophils), leading to a condition called neutropenia. This makes the body much less able to fight off even common germs. Infections can become serious very quickly in people with neutropenia.[4] An infection during cancer treatment may require hospitalization and can force delays or changes to the cancer treatment schedule, giving the cancer more time to progress.
Oral health is a mirror of overall health, yet it is the most neglected. Dental health should indeed be at the top of everyone’s list of health priorities.Dr. Vidya Vaidya, MDS (Prosthodontics), Ex-Professor at MCDRC (Durg, India), and Private Practitioner in Durg
Jacobsen had her dental infections dealt with conclusively, an approach that should help her beat cancer better. For you and me, taking care of our oral health is key to maintaining better general health. Daily toothbrushing, flossing, a balanced diet low in sticky foods, and regular dental checkups are your best tools to keep smiling your best and healthiest!
References:
Fu, D., X. Shu, G. Zhou, M. Ji, G. Liao, and L. Zou. “Connection Between Oral Health and Chronic Diseases.” MedComm 6, no. 1 (2025): e70052. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11731113/ PMC
Yamazaki, K., et al. “Exploring the Oral-Gut Linkage: Interrelationship Between Oral and Gut Microbiota and Impacts on Systemic Health.” Journal Name (2023). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11222583/ PMC
Hardan, Louis, Anthony Matta, Rim Bourgi, Carlos Enrique Cuevas-Suárez, and Walter Devoto. “Association Between Dental and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review.” Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine 24, no. 6 (June 6, 2023): 159. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11264166/ PMC
Cancer Research UK. “The Immune System and Cancer.” Cancer Research UK. Accessed December 13, 2025. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/body-systems-and-cancer/the-immune-system-and-cancer Cancer Research UK