Rethinking Mouthwash: Why it May be Doing More Harm than Good
If you're a regular user of mouthwash, this is an important blog post to read.
It’s also a perfect example of why navigating health advice can be so confusing - with conflicting information and marketing that often oversimplifies.
But here’s a fresh perspective: learn a bit more, then decide what makes sense for you. Like I like to say … it's about learning, practicing and ultimately owning your health in a way that works for you.🙂.
I came across a study connecting mouthwash to higher blood pressurea couple of years ago.
It sounded wild, but the more I dug into the research, the more it made sense.
It was compelling enough for me to not only stop using mouthwash (I wasn’t a regular user anyway), but to tell one of my kids — a daily user — to quit cold turkey.
And yet, here's an example of why navigating the health world can be so complicated.
Just last week I was sitting in the dentist’s chair, being handed a cup of bright blue Scope.
So, let me explain...
Why Your Oral Microbiome Matters
We hear about the gut microbiome all the time. But your oralmicrobiome is equally important.
It’s home to bacteria that help regulate everything from digestion to blood pressure.
Commercial mouthwashes proudly declare they kill 99.99% of all bacteria. And while that sounds like a good thing … here's the problem - they don’t discriminate between the good and the bad.
This matters because:
Beneficial bacteria help produce nitric oxide, a molecule that improves blood flow, lowers blood pressure, and reduces inflammation.
Antiseptics, mouthwash, fluoride, and even antibiotics can destroy this balance.
Dr. Nathan Bryan, a Phd bio-chemist and nitric oxide researcher, conducted research that showed that using antiseptic mouthwash for just one week (daily) increased participants' blood pressure.
When they stopped, their nitrate-reducing bacteria returned and blood pressure dropped.
In other words, something as simple as mouthwash could be silently undermining your cardiovascular health.
What’s in That Bottle of Scope anyways?
Alcohol (15%) — dries the mouth, potentially increases cancer risk
Cetylpyridinium Chloride (CPC) — kills both good and bad bacteria, can stain teeth
Sodium Saccharin — an artificial sweetener
FD&C Blue No. 1 — a synthetic dye flagged for possible neurotoxicity
And the list goes on. These ingredients might leave your mouth feeling fresh, but at what cost?
And if you're an occasional user, don't get too worried. But if you are a daily user, you now have something to think about.
One simple solution is to just use a saltwater and/or baking soda rinse. You can also look for mouth rinses that are alcohol-free, dye-free, and support the microbiome (some even contain probiotics, xylitol (a natural sweetener found in small amounts in fruits and vegetables like berries, corn, and birch trees but has many benefits for oral health, including promoting remineralization), or herbs like clove or neem.
But here's a chart of natural fresh breath strategies that you can also experiment with:
You don’t need to toss everything in your cabinet, but consider a gentler approach that works with your body, not against it.
Your body is brilliantly designed — and your mouth is no exception.
If you would like to learn more about nitric oxide, here is a study from the National Institute of Health. And check out a video on the homepage of Dr. Nathan Bryan's website explaining the importance of nitric oxide production, as well as its importance for cardiovascular health.
If you have any questions about this, or if you're looking for recommendations on where to turn, just shoot me an email.
I always love hearing from you!