Most of us have a daily habit that we think is good for our dental hygiene, but it could be inadvertently contributing to high blood pressure. The culprit? Mouthwash. While swishing with mouthwash gives you minty fresh breath, it may also be interfering with your body’s natural production of an essential nutrient that helps regulate blood pressure – nitric oxide (NO).
The Importance of Nitric Oxide
The lining of your blood vessels, known as endothelial tissue or the endothelium, plays a vital role in affecting blood flow and blood pressure. In many individuals with heart issues, this lining loses some of its flexibility, leading to restrictions in the ability to supply sufficient blood to your muscles, heart, and brain. As a result, blood pressure may rise, posing risks to heart health.
Inorganic nitrates, found in nutrient-rich foods such as beets, spinach, and other leafy greens, assist the body in producing NO. This compound lowers blood pressure, dilates blood vessels, and boosts the mitochondria. Although nitrates were not considered to have any nutritional value in the past, researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have recently shown that dietary nitrates play a significant role in facilitating the production of NO with the help of beneficial bacteria present in our mouths.
Mouthwash and its Consequences
When we use mouthwash regularly, it eliminates both good and bad bacteria from our mouths. Using mouthwash in excess can be compared to the negative effects that over-medicating with antibiotics can have on our valuable gut microbiome. With most people not consuming sufficient dietary nitrates to produce NO, it is essential to avoid anything that may further diminish this vital compound.
Alternative Solutions for a Fresh Mouth and Healthy Blood Pressure
If you are looking for ways to maintain a clean mouth without compromising your natural production of nitric oxide, a possible solution is oil pulling. This holistic dental practice may sound complex, but it is relatively simple to follow.
Oil pulling involves placing a tablespoon of oil (usually coconut oil) in your mouth and gently swishing or pulling it between your teeth for at least 10 minutes and up to 20 if you can with practice. After completing the process, spit out the oil, rinse your mouth with warm water containing a pinch of sea salt, and run hot water down your sink to prevent oil build-up in your plumbing.
Coconut oil has natural antimicrobial properties, making it an ideal candidate for oil pulling. However, if you are particularly concerned about heart health, sesame oil may be an alternative worth considering. Sesame oil contains a high concentration of polyunsaturated fats and is a good source of vitamin E, which is absorbed while swishing the oil in your mouth. Vitamin E is a crucial component in the battle against metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, sesamin, a specific antioxidant found in sesame oil, has been known to inhibit cholesterol absorption and exhibit antihypertensive action.
