Turquoise blue, cherry red or neon pink: the mouthwashes have the colors of sour candies and give the appearance of innocuous products. Still, doctors suggest these products shouldn’t be used unsupervised, as some can cause health concerns, including heart problems or strokes.
The objective of mouthwashes is simple: to reduce the level of bacteria in the mouth and on the tongue in order to prevent or treat gingivitis and periodontal disease. But they are also used by a large number of people in addition to brushing, in order to have a “fresh mouth” feeling. Some of them are enriched with chlorhexidine, a powerful antiseptic that is very effective in killing bacteria in the oral cavity. The problem is that the antiseptic does not distinguish between bad bacteria and good ones, which protect, among other things, our blood pressure. It thus rids us of the microbes necessary to create nitrites, which are essential for a good dilation of the vessels.
During a study conducted by Professor Amrita Ahluwalia of Queen Mary University of London with volunteers using mouthwashes containing 0.2% chlorhexidine, she found that these volunteers had increased blood pressure. However, according to another study from the university “for each two point increase in blood pressure, the risk of dying from heart disease increases by 7% and the risk of dying from a stroke by 10%” explains Professor Ahhluwalia. The latter therefore advises regular users of mouthwashes to use products without chlorhexidine. “This antiseptic should be reserved for mouthwashes used occasionally, after caries treatment for example, and under the supervision of a dentist”.
