A recent study published in the journal Nitric Oxide had startling news for those who like to keep their breath fresh.
People who use traditional commercial mouthwash twice a day, or even more frequently, showed a significantly elevated risk for diabetes or pre-diabetes, the study said.
But don’t panic – or stop using mouthwash – just yet, says Dr. Harold Katz (www.therabreath.com), a dentist and bacteriologist.
“While this is an interesting study, it’s important to note that the researchers didn’t conclude that EVERY mouthwash causes diabetes,” says Katz, who knows something about battling bad breath because he developed the oral rinse TheraBreath in the 1990s after he was unable to help his teenage daughter with her severe and chronic breath problem by using traditional alcohol-based mouthwash.
“What those researchers found was there is a possible association between abuse of traditional mouthwash formulas and diabetes. That’s not the same as cause and effect, and even they say more study is needed.”
Instead of giving up on fighting bad breath altogether, Katz suggests that you:
• Realize that newer oxygen-based formulas may actually be beneficial to oral health, as well as overall health. The study made it clear that the researchers didn’t differentiate among mouthwashes, and not all mouthwashes are the same, Katz says. Mouthwashes were initially designed to kill a wide range of oral bacteria, including bad breath bacteria, as just about anyone who has seen a mouthwash commercial knows. But some brands are almost too good at attacking bacteria. Instead of selectively killing halitosis-associated microbes, Katz says, they indiscriminately wipe out all bacteria – including good bacteria that produce nitric oxide, which helps to prevent diabetes. A recent UCLA School of Dentistry study showed that a fresh breath oxygenating mouthwash (TheraBreath) specifically targeted bad breath microbes, while also supporting the beneficial nitric oxide producers in the oral microbiome. On the other hand, the UCLA study showed that a traditional alcohol-based formula, while killing bad breath germs, did not support the oral microbiome, because it wiped out beneficial bacteria as well.
• Always check mouthwash ingredients. Although the study in Nitric Oxide made no connection between any specific ingredient and diabetes, Katz says, there are a few things you should check on the ingredients label to improve your health in general. For example, make sure your mouthwash is free of drying agents such as alcohol and sodium lauryl sulfate (a harsh detergent found in mosttoothpastes and some mouthwashes). Katz says that a dry mouth is one of the most common triggers to bad breath.
• Reconsider your frequency of use. The results of the diabetes study were tied to how often people in the test group used mouthwash. The problems showed up in those who used mouthwash at least twice a day – and sometimes more often than that. “The study said that those who used mouthwash less than twice a day showed no association with diabetes,” Katz says. “If you’re concerned and you are one of those people who use mouthwash several times a day, you might want to consider cutting back.”
Bad breath lowers self-esteem and affects everyday life and personal relationships,” Katz says. “It’s something you want to address. You just want to make sure you take care of it in the right way.”
About Dr. Harold Katz
Dr. Harold Katz (www.therabreath.com), developer of TheraBreath Dry Mouth Oral Rinse, received his degree in bacteriology from UCLA and is the founder of The California Breath Clinics and author of “The Bad Breath Bible.” He has been featured on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” CBS’s “Early Show” and “The View” with Barbara Walters and countless other TV shows. Dr. Katz has developed oxygenating compounds that have been used by millions around the world to eliminate bad breath. His TheraBreath brand of fresh breath rinses have recently been awarded the ADA Seal of Acceptance for Fresh Breath. He is also the bearer of the now famous “Halimeter,” which tests the sulfur compounds in the mouth that cause bad breath. Dr. Katz’ website offers a free online bad breath test – as well as a sneaky way to tell someone they have halitosis.
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