LU: below is part of an article in Prevention magazine:
This Everyday Hygiene Habit Could Up Your Risk For Diabetes
By MARKHAM HEID NOVEMBER 16, 2017
Back away from the mouthwash.
A just-published study in the journal Nitric Oxide found people who use over-the-counter mouthwash twice daily were 50% more likely to develop diabetes or prediabetes than those who use mouthwash once a day or not at all.
Yes, that sounds nuts. But experts say there’s a likely explanation. And, like so many other things these days, it seems to revolve around the helpful bacteria that live inside our bodies.
Some “oral microbes” seem to play a beneficial role in metabolic health, says study author Kaumudi Joshipura, ScD, an adjunct professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health.
“Many bacteria in the mouth are able to metabolize nitrate into nitrite, which is then swallowed into the gastrointestinal tract, and then converted to nitric oxide,” she explains. Nitric oxide (NO) is “an important signaling molecule,” that helps regulate your metabolism, energy balance, and your body’s insulin levels, she says. Insulin helps keep your blood sugar levels in check so when it malfunctions, type 2 diabetes can result.
What’s the problem with mouthwash?
Nearly all commonly used mouthwash formulas include some kind of antibacterial ingredient that kills bacteria, Joshipura says. These antibacterials include chlorhexidine, triclosan, cetylpyridinium chloride, alcohol, essential oils, fluoride, and peroxide, among others.
“Most of these antibacterial ingredients in mouthwash are not selective,” she explains. “In other words, they do not target specific oral bacteria—instead, these ingredients can act on a broad range of bacteria.” That includes the good kind that helps your body produce appropriate amounts of nitric oxide, which as a reminder, is the signaling molecule that helps regulate insulin levels.
Also, if your mouthwash is killing helpful bacteria, rinsing them away may make room for potentially harmful bacteria to take their place, she says. All of this is bad news.