I know, you just read that title and you were like, "What the heck is happening to Bonnie??" I know it sounds crazy but it's true. The answer to the question, "Is mouthwash bad for you?" might actually be yes.
This is because mouthwash may increase your blood pressure…undoing the benefits you get from exercise, which lowers your blood pressure in the hours after you're done.
And yes, there was an actual study done on this question, "Is mouthwash bad for you?" A study from the University of Plymouth had people exercise, then gave half of them mouthwash, and gave the other half a placebo of mint-flavoured water.
So first they had the people exercise…and what happens during exercise that causes your blood pressure to drop is this:
Exercise produces something called NITRIC OXIDE. It makes your blood vessels open up, and that's why your body produces it: so that your blood is pumping really hard during exercise, allowing your heart to pump. This also allows the blood flow to get to the muscles you're working out.
And then it's that same nitric oxide that lowers your blood pressure, with effects lasting hours after exercise is over!
Of course, having a lower blood pressure is really key to preventing heart disease, and is one of the many, many reasons I highly recommend exercise… It doesn't have to be super intense, because moderate exercise produces this awesome nitric oxide stuff too!
But anyway, my point is, you may not want to reach for your mouthwash for several hours after you're done exercising.
Why? Well, that University of Plymouth study found that switching out with mouthwash inhibits your body's ability to get the effects of the nitric oxide! So, "Is mouthwash bad for you?" Well, it's not technically bad for you on its own, but it reduces the good effects of exercise. As crazy as that sounds!!
I know you want a nice smile, but put away that mouthwash.
In the study, people were told to run on a treadmill for half an hour, and then some of them were given mouthwash and some of them were given the fake mouthwash. The ones that were given the real mouthwash did still experience some lowered blood pressure, but the ones who didn't take the mouthwash had their blood pressure lowered by TWICE AS MUCH!
What the heck?
Well, this is a little complicated, but: basically, it's the good bacteria in your mouth that converts nitrate into nitrite, which is the only way that your body is able to produce nitric oxide. So if you don't have that good bacteria in your mouth, then your body isn't able to produce the awesome blood pressure-lowering effect. By taking away the good bacteria, you are taking away the building blocks your body is using.
Or as the study creator Chris Cutler says (and I don't know if the way this guy says it makes any more sense or not!): "In effect, it’s like oral bacteria are the ‘key’ to opening up the blood vessels." And if those blood vessels don't open up, you don't get the full effects of exercise.
In short…a dirty mouth is usually bad, but because science is crazy, the bacteria in your mouth can lower your blood pressure…So mouthwash after exercising a bad idea. Just keep smiling, and put it off for a while!
Can you believe it? Leave me a comment below if this sounds like the most insane thing EVER to you!!
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