Can using mouthwash every day lead to diabetes?
Mouthwash may help freshen your breath, but according to a recent study, regular use may increase your chances of developing diabetes.
The SOALS study surveyed 1,206 overweight non-diabetic adults between the ages of 40 and 65. Many participants (43%) used mouthwash at least once a day, and 22% used mouthwash at least twice a day. Factors such as income, education, oral hygiene, dental health, sleep disorders, diet, medications, and blood sugar levels were also considered.
Results showed that people who used mouthwash twice or more per day had an increased risk of developing prediabetes or diabetes within 3 years.
The body needs nitric oxide.
The SOALS study suggests that regular mouthwash users should be cautious about antibacterial ingredients that reduce the amount of nitrate bacteria in the mouth. Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the action of insulin in the body.
Mouthwash kills bad bacteria as well as some of the good bacteria in your mouth that are needed to produce nitrates. So if you use mouthwash, you end up with less NO in your body, which leads to more inflammation and problems with insulin. When insulin doesn’t work properly, you can develop diabetes.
Consult a doctor
Before you panic and throw away your mouthwash bottle, remember that this topic needs more research, as SOALS acknowledges.
“There are a lot of variables to consider,” says Marie Paulis, director of the dental hygiene program at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. “Mouthwashes vary widely in purpose, ingredients, and the type of mouthwash used in this study is not specific.”
Study subjects may have used a mouthwash containing 20% alcohol, a mouthwash for dry mouth, or an alcohol-free fluoride mouthwash. Ask your doctor about the best mouthwash for you.
Use mouthwash sparingly.
Healthy gums are important in preventing diabetes and a host of other health problems, according to Dr. Gelfand. However, according to this study, mouthwash should be used with caution.
Brushing and flossing should be your main weapons for maintaining good oral hygiene. He recommends using mouthwash just once or twice a week in the morning, as well as eating nitrate-rich foods like strawberries, raspberries, spinach, lettuce, and beets.
