Does mouthwash kill the *good* bacteria in your mouth similar to how hand sanitizer kills the *good* bacteria or your hands?

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Does mouthwash kill the *good* bacteria in your mouth similar to how hand sanitizer kills the *good* bacteria or your hands?

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5 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Yes.
I’ve recently taken part in a UK medical trial researching the effect of beetroot in lowering blood pressure.

We had to stop using mouthwash during the trial because our bodies need the bacteria in our mouths to convert Nitrate in our food to Nitrite. Beetroot is one of many foods high in Nitrate. I was told by the researchers that this is a symbiotic relationship that has developed over millions of years.

Our bodies can’t convert Nitrate without this oral bacteria. (Our bodies then use the Nitrite to make Nitric Oxide which relaxes blood vessels thus lowering blood pressure)

More information [here: The Role of Salivary Glands and Oral Bacteria](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27872324)

Anonymous 0 Comments

Follow up question-is it better to use non-alcoholic or alcoholic mouthwash to kill bad breath? Some mouthwashes claim to be better than Listerine. But what’s the truth?

Anonymous 0 Comments

Yes. The alcohol in it will kill virtually any bacteria it comes in contact with.

Use “smart mouth” mouthwash. Best change I ever made. More expensive and you get a lot less uses out of a single bottle but it’s worth it in my opinion. I know Target carries it but have not seen (or looked for) it elsewhere.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Both kill all bacteria because of the alcohol in them.

Your mouth and hands don’t need certain bacteria to function, so it’s ok to use alcohol like this.

Your gut needs the ‘good’ bacteria to function, which is partly why both products say not to drink them.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Yes it slaughters everything without discretion.

However “good bacteria” are mostly found and useful within your stomach and intestines. So long as those are fine, then you have nothing to worry about.