A growing number of dentists and medical professionals are cautioning against the indiscriminate use of popular mouth rinses, suggesting that they may inadvertently contribute to cavities and persistent bad breath.
The Evolution of Mouth Rinses
The origins of formal oral rinsing as a practice can be traced back to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to around 2700 B.C. when it was first used for treating gum diseases.But our modern-day mouth rinse products are far from a simple salt water rinse. In fact, they were originally not even intended for oral rinse purposes.
According to the book “Health & Drugs, Disease Prescriptions & Medication” by Nicolae Sfetcu, after its use as a powerful antiseptic, it was distilled and sold as a floor cleaner and as a cure for gonorrhea. In the 1920’s it was rebranded and sold as a cure for “chronic halitosis,” and was the first over-the-counter mouth rinse to receive the American Dental Associations’ prestigious seal of approval.
Problems Revealed by Research
Kall warns that there has been research showing that overuse of antibacterial products including mouth rises can have negative effects on different aspects of our health.Oral Microbiome Dysbiosis
Regular use of these rinses can disrupt the oral microbiome and shift it out of balance, a state known as dysbiosis. Antibacterial products not only kill the “bad bacteria” but also the good bacteria that are needed for many vital functions, including fighting off bacterial and viral infections.High Blood Pressure
Kall also stressed that the antiseptic ingredient in mouth rinses can also interfere with the nitrate–nitrite–nitric oxide (NO) pathway which occurs at the back of the tongue.This pathway is important in the oral microbiome because nitrates from our diet are converted into nitrites by oral bacteria through the process of nitrate reduction which are then further converted into NO.
The study looked specifically at chlorhexidine, an antiseptic used in mouthwash.
“Twice-daily chlorhexidine usage was associated with a significant increase in systolic blood pressure after 1 week of use and recovery from use resulted in an enrichment in nitrate-reducing bacteria on the tongue,” it reads.
Dry Mouth, Cavities, and Fungal Infections
Many mouth rinse products contain alcohol which has a drying effect that can be problematic over time, warned Kall. That’s because saliva has several important roles that are compromised when the mouth is dry.Softening Effect on the Composite Filling Materials
Kall also notes that the harsh ingredient in many mainstream mouth rinses has a softening effect on the composite filling materials (the tooth-colored filling materials).“Alcohol can be problematic for composites and cause a quicker breakdown, shortening the amount of time that those composites will hold up,” Kall said.
Chemical Soup
Aside from alcohol, Kall said chlorhexidine is another mouthwash ingredient to avoid.Chlorhexidine is used as a surgical scrub and diluted down and flavored for use as a mouth rinse.
Reading the labels on mouth rinses is a must, advises Kall.
“Unfortunately, when you look at the inactive ingredients, it’s a chemical alphabet soup. A lot of times there are various dyes or flavoring agents in them. Why expose yourself to these chemicals?” he said.
“They can be problematic, particularly with chronic long-term consumption. Even though you’re not swallowing the material intentionally, there’s still some that gets down into your gut and now your body has to deal with these irritating chemicals that can possibly cause leaky gut issues or chemical sensitivities,” Kall continued.
Alternative Solutions
There are many types of effective homemade mouth rinses that can have antiseptic effects and help heal gum tissues. Dr. Kall noted a few options.According to a review in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, oil pulling is mentioned in the Ayurvedic text Charaka Samhita and “claimed to cure about 30 systemic diseases ranging from headache, migraine to diabetes and asthma,” and used to prevent decay, oral malodor, bleeding gums, dryness of throat, cracked lips, strengthening teeth, gums, and the jaw.
To the Root
As a biological dentist, Dr. Kall approaches dentistry in a holistic way using the least toxic treatment options.For example, problematic or bad bacteria love it when there’s too much free iron in our tissues, the small level of bad bacteria which could be okay to have around starts proliferating, and gets out of control. An overabundance of free iron can occur when our bodies are out of balance and have inadequate levels of copper, magnesium, and retinol, Kall notes.
We can minimize oxidative stress through diet and lifestyle choices. Avoiding things like sugar, chemicals from different sources, pesticides, heavy metals, and food additives and adding nervous system-regulating activities such as grounding, physical exercise, meditation, and acupuncture can help minimize oxidative stress, Kall says.
As mentioned above, dry mouth can be caused by drying agents such as alcohol but can also be exacerbated by mouth breathing. Kall notes that there are remineralizing sprays that can help as well as mouth apparatuses that can be worn at night to avoid prolonged mouth breathing.
Although on their Listerine website, they do note that they conducted a one week study to determine if two of their commercial mouth rinses, one alcohol-based and one nonalcohol-based, affected salivary flow or caused symptoms of dry mouth adults.
The Epoch Times reached out to Johnson & Johnson regarding recent studies and concerns around the ingredients in mouth rinses like Listerine but they have not yet responded.