7 alternative mouthwash solutions that can do the job without the risk

By Christy Prais | June 13, 2023 | The Epoch Times

A growing number of dentists and medical professionals are cautioning against the indiscriminate use of popular mouth rinses, suggesting that they may inadvertently contribute to cavities and persistent bad breath.

There is also an emerging correlation between regular mouthwash use and more serious health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and oral diseases.

The Evolution of Mouth Rinses

The origins of formal oral rinsing as a practice can be traced back to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to around 2700 B.C. when it was first used for treating gum diseases.

A May 2023 study published in The Journal of Ethnopharmacology notes that “The Book of Rites” (“Li Ji,” written around 221 B.C.) from the period of the early Qin Dynasty recorded that rinsing with salt water was used as a tooth cleaning method during that time.

But our modern-day mouth rinse products are far from a simple salt water rinse. In fact, they were originally not even intended for oral rinse purposes.

The antiseptic mouth rinses Listerine, acquired from Pfizer by Johnson & Johnson in 2006, was originally developed as a surgical antiseptic in 1865 and named after Joseph Lister who performed the first antiseptic surgery.

According to the book “Health & Drugs, Disease Prescriptions & Medication” by Nicolae Sfetcu, after its use as a powerful antiseptic, it was distilled and sold as a floor cleaner and as a cure for gonorrhea. In the 1920’s it was rebranded and sold as a cure for “chronic halitosis,” and was the first over-the-counter mouth rinse to receive the American Dental Associations’ prestigious seal of approval.

Over the years the mouth rinse market has quickly grown, and as of 2021 the global market was valued at $8.5 billion dollars and expected to grow to $15.7 billion by the end of 2032, according to Persistence Market Research.

Dr. Jack Kall, a practicing biological dentist of 46 years and the executive chair of the board of directors of the International Academy of Oral Medicine (IAOMT) says he typically does not recommend using mouth rinses regularly.

“I would reserve their use for very limited times such as if you’re going on a job interview, or you have something happening close up to where you want to be covering up garlic breath,” Kall told The Epoch Times in an interview.

Problems Revealed by Research

Kall warns that there has been research showing that overuse of antibacterial products including mouth rises can have negative effects on different aspects of our health.

Oral Microbiome Dysbiosis

Regular use of these rinses can disrupt the oral microbiome and shift it out of balance, a state known as dysbiosis. Antibacterial products not only kill the “bad bacteria” but also the good bacteria that are needed for many vital functions, including fighting off bacterial and viral infections.

Several studies reveal connections between diseases, viruses, and alterations in the oral microbiome. For instance, when imbalances occur within the oral microbiome, they can prompt gut microbes to generate carcinogenic toxins, triggering gut inflammation and metabolic complications.

High Blood Pressure

Kall also stressed that the antiseptic ingredient in mouth rinses can also interfere with the nitrate–nitrite–nitric oxide (NO) pathway which occurs at the back of the tongue.

This pathway is important in the oral microbiome because nitrates from our diet are converted into nitrites by oral bacteria through the process of nitrate reduction which are then further converted into NO.

NO is one of the most important signaling molecules in our bodies and plays a crucial role in regulating many physiological functions, including blood flow by helping with the dilation of blood vessels, immune response, and microbial homeostasis.

A study published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology in 2019 warns that the use of “oral antiseptics resulted in increases in systolic blood pressure.”

The study looked specifically at chlorhexidine, an antiseptic used in mouthwash.

“Twice-daily chlorhexidine usage was associated with a significant increase in systolic blood pressure after 1 week of use and recovery from use resulted in an enrichment in nitrate-reducing bacteria on the tongue,” it reads.

Another study published in the American Journal of Hypertension had similar findings and concluded, “Results of this study suggest that use of antibacterial mouthwash by treated hypertensive individuals could have a detrimental effect on blood pressure. Of concern, is the widespread use of mouthwash in the general population.”

Dry Mouth, Cavities, and Fungal Infections

Many mouth rinse products contain alcohol which has a drying effect that can be problematic over time, warned Kall. That’s because saliva has several important roles that are compromised when the mouth is dry.

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) having a sufficient amount of saliva is crucial because saliva contains minerals like “calcium and phosphate that help keep teeth strong and fight tooth decay.”

An insufficient amount of saliva can lead to an increased risk of tooth decay. Saliva also keeps invading germs in check, so a reduction in saliva can contribute to fungal infections, and bad breath.

Softening Effect on the Composite Filling Materials

Kall also notes that the harsh ingredient in many mainstream mouth rinses has a softening effect on the composite filling materials (the tooth-colored filling materials).

“Alcohol can be problematic for composites and cause a quicker breakdown, shortening the amount of time that those composites will hold up,” Kall said.

A study published Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry warned “The use of mouthwashes triggered changes on the structure of both dental materials: composite resin and resin modified glass ionomer.”

Chemical Soup

Aside from alcohol, Kall said chlorhexidine is another mouthwash ingredient to avoid.

Chlorhexidine is used as a surgical scrub and diluted down and flavored for use as a mouth rinse.

Some oral surgeons will recommend it after a person’s had some kind of surgery to reduce the risk of infection, Kall noted but “you definitely don’t want to be using that for very long.” Aside from disrupting the oral microbiome, it can also stain the teeth.

Reading the labels on mouth rinses is a must, advises Kall.

“Unfortunately, when you look at the inactive ingredients, it’s a chemical alphabet soup. A lot of times there are various dyes or flavoring agents in them. Why expose yourself to these chemicals?” he said.

“They can be problematic, particularly with chronic long-term consumption. Even though you’re not swallowing the material intentionally, there’s still some that gets down into your gut and now your body has to deal with these irritating chemicals that can possibly cause leaky gut issues or chemical sensitivities,” Kall continued.

Harmful ingredients to look out for include alcohol, chlorine dioxide, chlorhexidine, cocamidopropyl betaine, parabens, poloxamer 407, formaldehyde, and saccharin.

Alternative Solutions

There are many types of effective homemade mouth rinses that can have antiseptic effects and help heal gum tissues. Dr. Kall noted a few options.

Saltwater or peroxide: Both can have antiseptic effects.

Baking soda: Has a mildly abrasive effect that can help remove plaque and has natural whitening properties.

Herbal products and essential oils: Herbal extracts such as cinnamon bark oil, Papua-mace extracts, clove bud oil, peppermint, tea tree, eucalyptus oil, and thyme oil are shown to be very helpful at killing germs and healing gum tissue.

Oil pulling: From Ayurveda, the ancient holistic system of medicine that originated in India 3000-5000 years ago. It involves swishing oil, such as sesame oil or coconut oil, in the mouth for 3-5 minutes then expelling it.

According to a review in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, oil pulling is mentioned in the Ayurvedic text Charaka Samhita and “claimed to cure about 30 systemic diseases ranging from headache, migraine to diabetes and asthma,” and used to prevent decay, oral malodor, bleeding gums, dryness of throat, cracked lips, strengthening teeth, gums, and the jaw.

Oral probiotics: A randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology in 2013 found that a specific strain of good bacteria called Streptococcus salivarius strain M18, has been shown to improve dental health and reduce cavities by recolonizing your mouth with good bacteria and crowding out the bad bacteria.

Kall notes that although herbal-based products and alternatives are the healthier choice, he again cautions to be careful as some of these herbs are very effective antimicrobial agents and can be overdone similarly to the chemical options.

To the Root

As a biological dentist, Dr. Kall approaches dentistry in a holistic way using the least toxic treatment options.

Kall says that there are several factors that cause dental issues and bad breath. Some of the main ones are dysregulation of the body, oxidative stress, and dry mouth.

For example, problematic or bad bacteria love it when there’s too much free iron in our tissues, the small level of bad bacteria which could be okay to have around starts proliferating, and gets out of control. An overabundance of free iron can occur when our bodies are out of balance and have inadequate levels of copper, magnesium, and retinol, Kall notes.

We can minimize oxidative stress through diet and lifestyle choices. Avoiding things like sugar, chemicals from different sources, pesticides, heavy metals, and food additives and adding nervous system-regulating activities such as grounding, physical exercise, meditation, and acupuncture can help minimize oxidative stress, Kall says.

As mentioned above, dry mouth can be caused by drying agents such as alcohol but can also be exacerbated by mouth breathing. Kall notes that there are remineralizing sprays that can help as well as mouth apparatuses that can be worn at night to avoid prolonged mouth breathing.

Although on their Listerine website, they do note that they conducted a one week study to determine if two of their commercial mouth rinses, one alcohol-based and one nonalcohol-based, affected salivary flow or caused symptoms of dry mouth adults.

After 1 week of use, the study concluded “There were no differences in objective or subjective measures of mouth dryness between alcohol- and nonalcohol-containing mouth rinses after 1 week in nonxerostomic subjects.”

The Epoch Times reached out to Johnson & Johnson regarding recent studies and concerns around the ingredients in mouth rinses like Listerine but they have not yet responded.

Christy A. Prais received her business degree from Florida International University. She is the founder and host of Discovering True Health, a YouTube channel and podcast dedicated to health and wellness. Prais also serves on the advisory board at the Fostering Care Healing School. She is a contributing journalist for The Epoch Times.