Mouthwash Myths: Why You Shouldn’t Fear Listerine or Your Health

Americans have been using mouthwash for generations without dropping dead from heart attacks. Now some so-called experts want you to believe that Listerine is secretly destroying your blood vessels. This is just another example of the health panic industry trying to scare hardworking people away from products they trust.

The claims sound scary at first. These researchers say that antibacterial mouthwash kills good bacteria in your mouth that help produce something called nitric oxide. Without enough nitric oxide, your blood pressure supposedly goes up and your arteries do not work as well.

But here is what they are not telling you. Most of these studies use prescription-strength chlorhexidine mouthwash that regular Americans cannot even buy at the store. The over-the-counter products like Listerine that families use every day show very little effect. One study found absolutely no impact on muscle function or nitric oxide levels from normal mouthwash.

A dentist who actually treats real patients every day says this whole thing is basically an internet myth. She demonstrated that the nitric oxide test these fear mongers use gives false readings right after you rinse your mouth with anything, even plain water. The test results come back to normal within minutes.

The studies that do show blood pressure changes are talking about increases of just two to five points. That is barely noticeable and nowhere near dangerous for healthy people. Yet the mainstream media loves to blow these tiny numbers out of proportion to get clicks and views.

What really matters is that Americans should be free to make their own health choices without constant nagging from the nanny state crowd. If you want to use mouthwash to keep your breath fresh and your teeth clean, that is your God-given right. The government and uptight researchers should not be scaring people over products that have been safe for decades.

This is the same pattern we see over and over. First they tell us eggs are bad, then eggs are good. Coffee is dangerous, then coffee prevents disease. These flip-flopping health recommendations just prove that nobody really knows what they are talking about.

Trust your instincts and use common sense instead of panicking over every new study. Mouthwash has helped millions of Americans maintain good oral hygiene without causing heart problems. Do not let the fear merchants take away another product that works just fine.