Your Root Canal Might Be Doing More Than Saving a Tooth

Illustration of a tooth connected by a heartbeat line to a heart, with text: Beyond the Tooth - new research links root canal treatment to better blood sugar, cholesterol and lower inflammation.

When most people hear “root canal,” they think of one thing: relief from pain, and keeping a tooth they’d otherwise lose. That’s still the main reason we do them. But a growing body of research suggests treating an infected tooth may quietly benefit the rest of your body too, and a new clinical study out of King’s College London is one of the most interesting pieces of evidence yet.

What the study found

Researchers at King’s College London followed 65 patients over two years after they had root canal treatment for a common infection called apical periodontitis, an infection that forms at the tip of a tooth’s root, usually after decay or trauma reaches the nerve. Using a sensitive blood-analysis technique (NMR spectroscopy), the team tracked what happened to patients’ blood chemistry over time.

After successful treatment, they saw three changes worth noting:

  • Blood sugar control improved. Glucose levels dropped meaningfully over the two years, the kind of shift that matters for diabetes risk.
  • Cholesterol and blood fats improved, at least in the shorter term.
  • Markers of inflammation went down. Inflammation is a thread that runs through heart disease and many other chronic conditions.

The likely explanation is straightforward. A long-standing root infection gives bacteria a doorway into the bloodstream, where they can stir up body-wide inflammation and nudge blood sugar and blood fats in the wrong direction. Clear the infection, and that low-grade burden appears to ease.

Why this fits what we already know

None of this is as surprising as it might sound. Dentistry has understood for years that the mouth isn’t sealed off from the rest of the body, the “oral-systemic” link. Gum disease, for example, is well established as being connected to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. What makes this study notable is that it’s one of the first to actually measure the metabolic benefit of treating a root infection, rather than just documenting the risk of leaving one alone.

The honest caveats

I want to be straight with you about what this study does and doesn’t prove, because that matters more than a good headline. It was a small study, 65 people, and it followed patients over time rather than comparing them against an untreated control group. That means it shows an association, not ironclad proof that the root canal caused every improvement. The cholesterol benefits were described as short-term. Larger, longer studies are needed to confirm how strong and lasting these effects really are. The researchers themselves said as much.

So the takeaway isn’t “get a root canal to lower your cholesterol.” It’s that treating a dental infection promptly is very likely doing more good than we used to be able to measure, and there’s no downside to clearing an infection your body has been quietly fighting.

What this means for you

The practical message is the same one we’ve always given, now with a little more weight behind it: don’t sit on a tooth infection. A cracked or deeply decayed tooth, lingering sensitivity to hot or cold, a pimple-like bump on the gum, or a dull ache that won’t quit are all worth having looked at. Catching these early usually means a simpler procedure and a better outcome, for the tooth, and possibly for the rest of you.

If you’ve been putting off dealing with a problem tooth, or you’re not sure whether that occasional twinge is something to worry about, we’re happy to take a look and give you a straight answer.

This post summarizes research published in the Journal of Translational Medicine (King’s College London, 2025) for general educational purposes. It isn’t medical advice, and it doesn’t replace an exam. If you have a specific concern about a tooth or your health, give us a call and we’ll help you sort it out.

/by

Get Your Smile Summer-Ready: A Manhattan Dentist’s Prep Guide

Woman smiling on a Manhattan rooftop at golden hour

Tuesday, May 26, 2026 — Frangella Dental

Summer in New York is short, and most of us already know how we want to spend it: rooftop dinners, weekends at the shore, a wedding or two, maybe a long-overdue trip somewhere photogenic. What people forget is that the smile in all those photos benefits from a little planning — not a last-minute scramble the week before.

If you want to feel confident in front of the camera (and in conversation) all season, here’s what to schedule now, in roughly the order we’d recommend at our 57th Street office.

1. Start with a Cleaning — Not Whitening

It’s tempting to jump straight to the whitening tray, but professional whitening works dramatically better on a clean tooth. Surface stain from coffee, wine, and the everyday grind of Manhattan life sits on top of enamel and blocks the active ingredient. A hygiene visit removes that film, evens out your starting color, and gives us a chance to flag anything (a small cavity, gum inflammation, a chipped edge) that you’d rather catch before it becomes a summer problem.

Book the cleaning four to six weeks before your first big event.

2. Whitening: In-Office or Take-Home?

For most patients we like a hybrid: an in-office session to jump-start the color, followed by custom take-home trays to fine-tune and maintain. In-office gets you several shades brighter in a single visit. The take-home trays let you touch up before each event without overdoing it.

A few real-world notes:

Sensitivity is normal for 24–48 hours after a session. Plan whitening for a low-stakes day, not the morning of an engagement party.

Avoid the “white diet” cliche if you can — but in the 48 hours after whitening, the enamel is genuinely more porous and stain-prone. Coffee, red wine, berries, and turmeric are worth skipping for two days. After that, normal habits are fine.

If you have veneers, crowns, or bonding on visible teeth, whitening only affects your natural enamel. We’ll talk through how to keep everything looking unified.

3. Aligners and Invisalign — the Hidden Window

Late spring is actually one of the best times to start Invisalign if you’ve been on the fence. Most cases run six to eighteen months, which means a May or June start puts the major visible movement during the summer (when you’re already wearing aligners 22 hours a day at the beach anyway) and lands you in retainers by holiday season.

If you’re already in treatment, summer travel is the most common reason patients fall off their tray schedule. We’ll send you out with a few extra trays and clear instructions on switching cadence — but the simplest rule is: wear them on the plane.

4. Cosmetic Work with a Timeline

For anything more involved — veneers, crowns, bonding to close a gap or repair an edge — we want to plan backward from your event. Bonding can often be done in a single visit. Veneers and crowns are typically two appointments spaced about two weeks apart. We then like to see you back for a quick polish a week before any major photos so the finish is showroom-fresh.

If you’re considering this for a wedding, vacation, or reunion, the conversation should happen now, not in July.

5. The Five-Minute Daily Habits That Actually Move the Needle

After all of the above, the small daily things are what protect the investment:

A soft-bristle brush, used for two full minutes, twice a day. (Set a timer the first week — most people brush for closer to 45 seconds without realizing it.)

Floss before bed, not after coffee. The goal is to leave the mouth clean for the long stretch of sleep, when saliva flow drops and bacteria are most active.

A straw for iced coffee and cold brew. It sounds fussy and it isn’t — it keeps the most aggressive stainers off the front of your teeth.

Water after wine. Not a substitute for brushing, just a way to rinse the acidity off before it sits.

Book Now, Not Later

Our summer calendar fills earliest for hygiene appointments and Invisalign consults — usually by mid-June. If you’ve been meaning to call, this is the week to do it.

Schedule online or call (212) 245-2888. We’re at 200 W. 57th Street, Suite 1405, and we’d love to see you before the season gets away from us.

Frangella Dental is a family-run cosmetic and general dentistry practice in Midtown Manhattan, recognized among the top-rated dentists in New York for cosmetic and restorative work.

/by
,

Best Tools for Overall Dental Health

Dental hygiene products for oral health care

Ready to achieve that healthy smile? All you need to start is a good set of dental tools. Tools like brushes, toothpaste, floss and mouthwash all can help you maintain a beautiful smile with less plaque, cavities and gum disease. Our experts put together some recommendations for each of these tools, and why they are important to keep in your daily maintenance routine.

 

  1. Brushes – A good brush is one you will actually use at least twice a day, but if you are having a certain dental issue, you may want to talk with your dentist at your next cleaning about what may fit your needs the best. Oscillating toothbrushes can be helpful for removing plaque, and often can help as well with removing particles that may cause staining later on. Dr. Laura Frangella points out “​​Oscillating toothbrushes minimize technique errors that occur with manual toothbrushes. People often miss hard to reach areas because they are rushing or just don’t know proper brushing technique. Oscillating toothbrushes are designed so that all you have to do is position the toothbrush head in the proper areas, and it will do all the work for you by performing the proper brushing motions on its own.”  Frangella dentists often recommend Sonicare and Oral-B brands for oscillating toothbrushes. If you don’t feel comfortable using an oscillating brush because of sensitive teeth or gums, or cost is an issue, a soft gentle brush may be a good choice for you. Most dentists recommend some type of soft bristle as people tend to brush harder than is really necessary. 
  2. Toothpaste – Most dentists recommend a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride is recommended for its remineralizing attributes, having fluoride in your toothpaste will help avoid cavities and tooth decay by keeping enamel healthy and strong. Frangella Dentists recommend brands including Crest, Colgate and Sensodyne. There are toothpastes that are geared to more sensitive teeth, and even some for people with dentures or veneers. For more sensitive teeth, Frangella Dentists recommend Sensodyne toothpaste. Be sure to select one that fits your needs best. Ask your dentist at your next cleaning what the biggest issue is with your teeth, and you’ll be able to narrow down quickly which toothpastes may be best for you. Some people prefer to go a more natural route. Some natural toothpastes can be too abrasive for teeth, so be sure to read the labels carefully to make sure it’s effective in helping with cavities. If you are unsure about whether or not your toothpaste is an effective one, be sure to bring it to your next dental cleaning to ask your dentist.
  3. Floss – It’s important to floss your teeth once a day to get any food particles that may have gotten stuck in between your teeth that your brush can’t reach. Think of it as the tool that gets in the deep crevices where the brush can’t get to. If those particles stay in those crevices, bacteria will build, and that’s when issues like gum disease and cavities can begin. There is the traditional string version of floss that most dentists use for cleanings. These can often come in different flavors, widths and offer the flexibility to use different techniques for flossing. The wider the floss, typically the easier it will be to wrap around your fingers, but it may be more difficult in getting in and out of teeth that are tight together. The thinner string will get in between really hard to reach places most often, but may be difficult to wrap around your finger. Frangella Dentists typically recommend Glide and Satin-floss. There are also floss picks that some people prefer that come with a short string of floss already measured out, and a pick on the other end. These can be helpful for some who may not be able to reach their back molars. Children often find these to be easier than the traditional string floss. Another tool that many dentists recommend is a water flosser, or oral irrigator. These can be effective at removing plaque, often easier than traditional flossing, as they push water into those deep crevices, removing food particles, much like traditional floss would. This might be a good option for those with braces or bridges who may struggle with traditional floss. Frangella dentists recommend the Waterpik water flosser most often. 
  4. Mouthwash – Mouthwash tends to all look alike, so how do you know which one to use? First, most dentists recommend that you make sure it has the American Dental Association’s Seal of Approval on it. This means that it passes all the standards for safety and efficacy. Mouthwash should include some version of fluoride to help with plaque. Look for one that may target a dental issue your dental hygienist may have mentioned at your last appointment, such as anti-plaque, anti-cavity, or even sensitivity issues. Frangella Dentists often recommend Listerine or ACT brands of mouthwash. Also, remember that mouthwash is not a substitute for brushing and flossing. It can be helpful post-flossing to help remove any bacteria that may be left from flossing, and help prevent gingivitis and other gum disease; just be sure to use it in moderation. 

Whether you use one item over the other, it’s important just to use what works for you! Any dentist would agree that there’s no such a thing as a bad dental tool as long as it’s getting used. Take care of your teeth, and they will help take care of your overall health! If you want specific recommendations, ask your dentist at your next dental visit, or feel free to call us to schedule your next appointment. 

/by
,

Adolescents and Oral Health: How to Keep Your Teens Mouth Healthy

In the past we have discussed how to teach your children and yourself child brushing teethto be a great patient, and how to maintain a healthy oral environment. We’ve shared our insights from prenatal to postnatal as well. However, one very important group that seldom is addressed is the Adolescent group. Dentally, this is one of the most important age groups. These budding individuals are past the age where their parents can help them brush, but not mature enough to keep their mouths as clean as they should. A lot of damage can be done in those teen years that can set your child up for a lifetime of dental aggravation. Today’s post is about how to keep your teen’s mouth healthy.

  • Keep the fluoride coming, getting your teen to brush well and brush often is a hard job in itself, asking them to floss and rinse afterwards is even harder. I recommend buying a toothpaste that includes fluoride to help keep their enamel strong and healthy, and if you can try and have them rinse with a fluoride rinse like ACT before bed, even better. You can check out some ACT products here.
  • Try and make sure that your child is brushing at least twice a day. As much as they’ll be annoyed by your hounding them, they’ll be even more annoyed when they have to sit through a filling or two.
  • With the surge in popularity of energy and sports drinks kids are really drawn to these types of beverages.  Limit your teen’s consumption as much as you can. Always stick to sugar free, and be aware of what your teen is consuming. Some sports drinks, although sugar free, are very acidic and are unhealthy for dental enamel.
  • During the teenage years we often see many kids with braces. It is incredibly important to keep your teens mouth clean during this time. There are plenty of tools made to help keep brackets and orthodontic appliances clean. Ask your dentist or orthodontist which tools are best for your teens mouth and have them show your child (and you) how to use them.
  • Candy and carbohydrate laden snack foods are definite cavity causers. If you can’t avoid your child eating these types of foods then at least limit the amount of times during the day that they do. One sitting of eating candy and snacks followed by tooth brushing and flossing can reduce the risk of cavities as opposed to short periods of snacking throughout the day.
  • Teens can be very insecure, with all sorts of new social situations some kids are more concerned than ever about their appearances. Help boost your kids confidence by giving them the tools to keep their smile healthy and beautiful. If they are looking for inspiration, remind them that by not taking care of their mouths there are other risks besides cavities, such as bad breath, broken and discolored teeth.
Overall, to keep your teens mouth healthy make sure your teen is continuing with their regular dental appointments. By instilling in them the value of oral hygiene and good health habits you give your teen the building blocks for a lifetime of great oral and overall health. And finally, the best way to lead is by example!]]>

/by

The Facts on Fluoride

Fluoride has been and continues to be a hot topic in the field of dentistry. Despite all the information available regarding the benefits and Fotolia_5327278_XS-resized-600risks of fluoride use there still seems to be a large amount of misinformation about this topic. Fluoridation of the water system has been recommended by numerous health organizations, most notably the CDC and WHO have long supported the dental benefits of fluoride.
The CDC has stated that:  “For 65 years, community water fluoridation has been a safe and healthy way to effectively prevent tooth decay. CDC has recognized water fluoridation as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.” And,  the World Health Organization explained that:  “Public health actions are needed to provide sufficient fluoride intake in areas where this is lacking, so as to minimize tooth decay.” As a dentist I do believe that fluoride is a great tool to use to help prevent tooth decay. In our practice we frequently recommend fluoride products for adults and children alike. And, with my recommendations I have encountered many questions about fluoride, such as where does it come from, how much am I getting and how much do I need?

  • Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral and can be found naturally in all water sources.
  • There are two ways to receive fluoride.
    • Systemically such as in a supplement or in your drinking water.
    • Topically, such as in toothpastes, mouthrinses and topical foams or gels.
  • Fluoride, when applied to the teeth can cause the enamel, or outermost layer, to become stronger and more resistant to cavities.
  • Fluoride when applied to the teeth in addition to preventing new cavities, can help heal or re-calcify small cavities
  • Like any other supplement fluoride is most effective when used in moderation.
  • The American Dental Association only recommends fluoride supplements for children ages 6 months- 16 years old. And, only for children who live in an area without fluoridated water and are at high risk for cavities.
  • Although bottled water may contain fluoride they are not required to report the amount of fluoride present unless they have actively added it to their water.
  • By ingesting too much systemic fluoride (fluoride supplements, processed/manufactured foods high in fluoride, and fluoridated water) you are at risk for  fluorosis of the teeth, this means that the enamel on the teeth can appear mottled or patchy.
  • By ingesting topical fluoride (toothpaste, mouthrinse, foams or gels)  you can cause stomach upset and nausea
  • Topical fluoride, such as in toothpastes and rinses are not meant to be swallowed and should not be used on children that may ingest it during use.
  • To find out if your water is fluoridated visit this website
]]>

/by

Benefits of Sedation with Dental Implants

conscious sedation is the surgical placement of dental implants.  With the surgical placement of dental implants it is crucial that a patient is anxiety free as to prevent any movement during the procedure.  There are certain parts during the procedure that may not cause pain, but can make a patient uncomfortable.  Conscious sedation removes this uncomfortable feeling because the patient is often At Dentist's Officeasleep or at the very least anxiety free and very calm. During the procedure I often have the patient perform tasks such as “open wide” or “bite down” or ask them questions in regards to how they are feeling.  With conscious sedation this is never a problem because the patient is able to maintain their own breathing and reflexes, they are also able to respond to different instructions. Also, most people would care not to remember the surgical procedure they have just experienced.  As an added benefit, 90% of the time the patient has amnesia towards the procedure just performed.    But, the biggest benefit to me as a practitioner is that conscious sedation is safe for the patient.  I cannot say the same about general anesthesia, the risks of complications are much higher.   As a practitioner who performs surgical placement of dental implants regularly, there is no other safe and comfortable way to have this procedure done then with conscious sedation.  ]]>

/by

Dental Myths Busted!

Dental Myth 1:  Pregnancy steals calcium from your teeth causing you to have more cavities During pregnancy there are many changes that occur to your body as a result  in the influx of hormones. Also, there is typically a change in diet due to restrictions imposed to protect the baby. These two factors amid many others (most notably the exhaustion that most expecting mothers feel as well as symptoms of morning sickness) can lead to a change in the risk for cavities that they may face. For example, most pregnant women eat less artificial sugars than they may have previously and are forced to switch to regular sugar, this coupled with being more tired than usual and perhaps a lax in brushing and flossing can cause them to develop cavities during pregnancy. Although there may be other factors at play, such as a subtle change in the oral environment during pregnancy, we typically do not find that calcium is leeched from the teeth and in turn causing more cavities, but more often a series of subtle changes that make you more susceptible to developing cavities. Fotolia_10056459_XS-resized-600

Dental Myth 2:  Wisdom teeth push your teeth and make them crooked

Dental eruption is normally a passive process. In other words, with the exception of primary or baby teeth, we do not usually see an effect of adult teeth destroying or moving the teeth next to them during the eruption process. The correlation between teeth shifting, or appearing more crooked, and the eruption or presence of wisdom teeth can be attributed to several other factors which are still under debate.

Dental Myth 3:  You do not have to wear your retainer after a year

Some patients happen to be lucky and get away with not having to wear their retainers after completing orthodontics.  But the vast majority of us will see relapse and the teeth will shift back to where they were moved from.  The forces that put our teeth in the original position are still present.  Retainers fight these forces from pushing the teeth back to their original place.

Dental Myth 4:  Adults do not need to use fluoride

Fluoride bonds with enamel and makes it stronger, therefore preventing acids from penetrating teeth and causing cavities.   Adults will benefit from strong enamel just as a child would.

Dental Myth 5:  Cavities cause pain

If a cavity is causing you pain it is because it has penetrated the enamel and is now into the softer and more sensitive layer of the tooth called dentin.  If the cavity really hurts, it probably is now past the dentin layer and into the nerve.  That is when root canal therapy is necessary.  Many cavities do not penetrate through the enamel and therefore do not cause pain.  ]]>

/by

Should I Go Electric

Should I Go Electric? The high price tag that comes along with an electric toothbrush often gets people asking “Is it really worth it?” There are many benefits to using an electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes minimize technique errors that occur with manual toothbrushes. People often miss hard to reach areas because they are rushing or just don’t know proper brushing technique. Electric toothbrushes are designed so that all you have to do is position the toothbrush head in the proper areas and it will do all the work for you by performing the proper brushing motions on its own. When positioning the brush head, you want to feel it between the teeth and also along the gum line. Electric toothbrushes can help remove or prevent surface staining. Who doesn’t want whiter teeth? It also lowers your risk for toothbrush abrasion. People typically brush too hard and for too short of a period of time. With built in timers, the toothbrush will let you know when it’s time to move on to another area. And with the toothbrush doing all the work, you can stop all that forceful scrubbing.

 Philips Sonicare vs Oral-B Spinbrush

I am partial to the Philips Sonicare because of the toothbrush head shape and brushing motion, but this is really just a personal preference. Both work great. You just have to pick which better suits you. sonicareoral-b   ]]>

/by

Getting Dental Work Done "Knocked Out"

Often times I hear a patient refer to being “knocked out” for procedures such as extracting wisdom teeth or placement of implants.  Truth is, to “knock out” a patient we would have to perform General Anesthesia.  This is when a patient is intubated, and is done because he or she no longer has reflexes to breath on their own. Fotolia_35347877_XS-resized-600-300x200We rarely do this for routine dental procedures.  In fact, when a patient refers to being “knocked out”, they may be describing “twilight” or conscious sedation. Conscious sedation is a form of sedation in which patients still have their reflexes during the procedure.  What this means is they breathe and move on their own while being sedated.  In our office we use an intravenously delivered sedative,  90% of the time our patients do not remember the procedure performed. The level of sedation used allows our patients to remain comfortable through out the procedure, without anxiety, while remaining aware enough to respond to stimuli and questions if need be. This allows us to provide a variety of services with relative ease and comfort to the patient.]]>

/by

No Cavities, but My Teeth are Sensitive

Woman with toothache

1. Gum recession:

When the gum tissue around a tooth recedes, the root becomes exposed.  The root is a very sensitive part of the tooth that when exposed to cold, hot, or sweets it can create sensitivity.   Solution: An immediate answer to this problem is  the use of desensitizing products such as toothpaste (Sensodyne) and mouth rinse (ACT) which can help take the edge off the sharpness felt in the tooth.  These products take a few weeks to work.   A long term solution may be bonding or gingival graft (surgically placing gum tissue)  over the exposed root.  These are procedures  in which we simply cover the exposed root causing sensitivity.

2. Teeth Whitening Products:

These days teeth whitening products are in virtually every type of product we use to keep our teeth healthy.  They are in mouth rinses, toothpaste, gum, etc.  The active ingredients that whiten our teeth can leave us with sensitivity after use of these products.  Solution: Very simple, use products without the whitening additive or at least cut back.

3. Grinding/Clenching:

Grinding and clenching your teeth can lead to gum recession which can lead to sensitivity.  Grinding and clenching also causes trauma to the tooth and can make it hypersensitive to hot, cold, sweets, etc. This is because the nerve inside the tooth becomes inflamed from the trauma.    Solution: Wear a night guard when you sleep and be conscious of keeping your teeth apart during the day.

4. Rough Teeth Cleaning:

Some times a hygienist or dentist can be a little overzealous when cleaning a patients teeth.  If a protective layer (cementum) is scrapped off of the roots of your teeth, you may experience sensitivity for a few weeks until that protective layer is reformed.  Solution: Wait it out, it could take a few weeks to improve.  Also,  mention to the provider who cleaned your teeth what your experience was like afterwards. We hope these offered solutions help with that annoying tooth sensitivity that just will not go away.   But always remember to keep up with your regular dental check ups and if sensitivity persists for longer than 2 weeks let your dental provider know!]]>

/by