Dr. Mark Burhenne, Functional Dentist Directory, San Francisco Bay Area, explains that more than 700 different species of bacteria called oral probiotics live in the oral cavity, and many of them play crucial roles in maintaining our overall health. While many oral products, such as mouthwashes promise gum protection, expert says regular usage of such products is harmful to teeth and the oral cavity in long term.

These bacteria helping break down food molecules and support important biochemical processes, such as converting nitrate-rich foods like leafy greens into nitric oxide, a molecule that relaxes blood vessels and helps regulate blood pressure.

However, when one uses mouthwash, they kill all kinds of bacteria, since the mouthwash has a non-selective composition. As a result, the protective and health-promoting functions of our natural oral bacteria can disappear completely.

What Happens When These Bacteria Are Dead?

Dr. Burhenn said that as these bacteria disappear, they cause various conditions such as;

• Diabetes: A Harvard study tracked 945 adults over three years. It revealed that using over-the-counter mouthwash twice a day was linked to 55% higher risk of diabetes due to elevated blood sugar, reducing infection resistance, while severe gum disease makes controlling blood sugar harder.
• Heart health: As these bacteria help in converting dietary nitrates into nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure, blood vessels become stiffer, blood pressure increases and the risk of heart diseases increases.
• Gum Problem: Mouthwash causes thinning of the gum lining or, more commonly, a peeling of the inside of the mouth (oral mucosal desquamation) primarily due to harsh ingredients, most notably Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and alcohol. Bleeding gums make a pathway for bacteria to enter the bloodstream and every other system in the body.

Mouthwash Alternatives

• Tongue scrape: Instead of using mouthwash, use a tongue scraper every day. Tongue scraping helps remove bacteria, food debris, and dead cells from the tongue's surface, which can reduce bad breath, improve taste, and support overall oral hygiene.
• Oil Pull: Oil pulling is a traditional oral hygiene practice that involves swishing a tablespoon of oil, usually coconut, sesame, or sunflower oil, in the mouth for about 10-20 minutes before spitting it out.
• Green Vegetables: Eat foods like Arugula, beets, spinach, fermented foods, berries, cacao, pomegranate and leeks. This type of food feeds the bacteria in the oral cavity.
• Breathe Through Nose: Breathe through the nose day and night, as saliva is the mouth's defense system; however, it gets weaker by inhalation of air.

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