In this week's episode, we look at the surprising link between mouthwash use and high blood pressure. We explore what mouthwash does, how the bacteria in our mouths are beneficial, and how the products of those bacteria can indirectly affect blood pressure.

References:

• Joshipura K, Muñoz-Torres F, Fernández-Santiago J, Patel RP, Lopez-Candales A. Over-the-counter mouthwash use, nitric oxide and hypertension risk. Blood pressure. 2020 Mar 3;29(2):103-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/08037051.2019.1680270
• Pacher P, Beckman JS, Liaudet L. Nitric oxide and peroxynitrite in health and disease. Physiological reviews. 2007.
• Sansbury BE, Hill BG. Regulation of obesity and insulin resistance by nitric oxide. Free radical biology and medicine. 2014 Aug 1;73:383-99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2014.05.016
• Morou-Bermúdez E, Torres-Colón JE, Bermúdez NS, Patel RP, Joshipura KJ. Pathways linking oral bacteria, nitric oxide metabolism, and health. Journal of Dental Research. 2022 Jun;101(6):623-31. https://doi.org/10.1177/00220345211064571
• Angjelova A, Jovanova E, Polizzi A, Leonardi R, Isola G. Effects of antiseptic formulations on oral microbiota and related systemic diseases: a scoping review. Antibiotics. 2025 Aug 8;14(8):815. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14080815
• Fryar CD, Kit B, Carroll MD, Afful J. Hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control among adults age 18 and older: United States, August 2021–August 2023. NCHS Data Brief, no 511. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2024. https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/164016