Can mouthwash raise your blood pressure?

Could good oral hygiene hurt your heart? Swishing mouthwash may raise your blood pressure, according to a new study. 

After 19 healthy people rinsed with an antiseptic mouthwash twice a day for a week, researchers found that their blood pressure increased 2 to 3.5 mm Hg—a bump that, if left alone, could up your risk cardiovascular disease by 7 percent, the study notes.

Antiseptic mouthwashes contain antimicrobial agents that kill oral bacteria to reduce the risk of plaque and gingivitis. But some oral bacteria are good and help form nitrites, which transform into nitric oxide—a substance that helps dilate and relax blood vessels. In the study, using mouthwash reduced nitrite production by 90 percent and nitrite levels in the blood by 25 percent. 

Here's the catch: The study used a specific type of mouthwash that contained the ingredient chlorhexidine. In the U.S., mouthwashes with that ingredient are usually prescribed by a dentist—most OTC ones don't contain it. It’s not clear yet whether other, less potent antiseptic ingredients in mouthwashes have the same result.

Don't know which brand to buy? We can advise you on all mouthwash and how suitable they are for you.

So for now, these results don’t necessarily mean you should skip mouthwash. Based on your oral history—risk of cavities and gum disease we  can tell you if one is necessary to your routine.  But if bad breath is your problem, look for a natural mouthwash or one that freshens breath only—and doesn’t eliminate bacteria. 

And remember, brushing for 2 minutes twice a day and flossing between teeth daily is still the best way to keep your mouth clean. And that can pay off for your heart: Improving gum health can slow the progression of plaque build up in your arteries, possibly because unhealthy bacteria levels contribute to harmful inflammation, according to a 2013 study in the Journal of The American Heart Association.

Cleaning your teeth may be even more important than you thought.

Gum disease is common and unpleasant, but, according to a growing body of evidence, it could also play a role in a surprising range of seemingly unrelated health problems.

 

Cleaning your teeth may be even more important than you thought.

 

Plaque — a sticky substance that contains bacteria — builds up on teeth. If it is not brushed away, the bacteria can irritate the gums.

The gums may then become swollen, sore, or infected; this is referred to as gingivitis. In general, gum disease can be treated or prevented by maintaining a good oral health regime. However, if it is left to develop, it can result in periodontitis, which weakens the supporting structures of the teeth. Gum disease, which is also called periodontal disease, is widespread. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost half of adults in the United States have some degree of gum disease.

The mechanisms behind periodontal disease are relatively well-understood, and newer research shows that this health problem may play a role in the development of a number of other conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and respiratory disease.

Gums and the brain

Although spatially the gums are near the brain, one wouldn't normally associate dental complaints with neurological conditions. However, some studies have found a link between periodontal disease and tooth loss and cognitive function. One study looking at cognitive performance followed 597 men for up to 32 years. The authors conclude:

"Risk of cognitive decline in older men increases as more teeth are lost. Periodontal disease and caries, major reasons for tooth loss, are also related to cognitive decline."

Researchers have also linked periodontal disease with an increased buildup of beta-amyloid in the brain — the neurological hallmark of Alzheimer's.Other experiments have produced evidence that one type of bacteria commonly found in cases of periodontitis — Porphyromonas gingivalis — can be found in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer's.

Following on from that discovery, in a more recent study, researchers showed that P. gingivalis infection boosts the production of beta-amyloid in the brain. In this study, the researchers paid particular attention to an enzyme produced by P. gingivalis called gingipain. They found that this protease was toxic to tau, another protein that plays a pivotal role in Alzheimer's.

It is worth noting that other researchers have concluded that beta-amyloid is produced in response to a pathogen. The way we view Alzheimer's is slowly changing.

In the future, scientists hope that targeting gingipain enzymes might help stop neurodegeneration in some people with Alzheimer's disease. They have already designed a gingipain inhibitor, which they are testing in humans.

The researchers hope that it will "slow or prevent further neurodegeneration and accumulation of pathology in [Alzheimer's disease] patients."