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AS💔Send this to a friend who still swears by mouthwash.
I used to think mouthwash was harmless. Fresh breath = good, right? But when I started looking at the research, I realized we’ve been getting this all wrong.
📌 Here’s what the science says (PMID: 31542940, 31709856):
Mouthwash doesn’t just kill bad breath—it kills the bacteria on your tongue that help regulate blood pressure. Your body needs those bacteria to convert nitrates from food into nitric oxide (NO)—a molecule that relaxes and widens blood vessels, keeping blood pressure in check.
🚨 So what happens when you wipe them out? NO levels drop, and blood pressure can start rising.
At first, I thought, “Okay, interesting correlation.” But then I asked myself:
👉 If mouthwash raises blood pressure, could we lower blood pressure by supporting those same bacteria?
📌 Turns out, YES (PMID: 30881924).
This study showed that simply scraping your tongue—instead of using mouthwash—actually helps restore the NO pathway and can lower blood pressure. That was the moment everything clicked.
💡 This isn’t just about fresh breath. It’s about your heart health. Instead of trying to disinfect the mouth, we need to support the oral microbiome and feed the good guys!
So if you’re using mouthwash daily, especially an antibacterial one—it might be time to rethink it. Instead, try tongue scraping. It’s simple, effective, and works with your body instead of against it.
Now tell me—have you ditched mouthwash yet?
#oralhealth #bloodpressure #hearthealth #dentaltips #mouthwash #wellnessjourney #dentistapproved #functionalhealth #tonguescraping
@askthedentist
