Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection and usually subsides on its own, when the infection is healed. However, chronic infections in the root canal area cause ongoing inflammation in the body, which is extremely dangerous. This, in turn, can damage blood vessels, leading to the buildup of plaques in arteries—a process called atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis narrows arteries in the long-term, and can block blood flow to the heart, either partially or fully, leading to heart attacks. However, this process usually takes months or even years, and does not occur overnight.
