The Claim

Listerine antiseptic mouthwash, containing ethanol and essential oils but lacking strong antibacterial agents, does not significantly reduce plasma or salivary nitrite levels or attenuate systolic blood pressure drops following a dietary nitrate load.

Source: A stepwise reduction in plasma and salivary nitrite with increasing strengths of mouthwash following a dietary nitrate load.

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
46score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Description
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Using Listerine antiseptic mouthwash does not lower nitrite levels in blood or saliva or reduce the drop in systolic blood pressure that occurs after consuming dietary nitrates.

See the scientific wording

Listerine antiseptic mouthwash, which contains ethanol and essential oils but lacks strong antibacterial agents, does not significantly reduce plasma or salivary nitrite levels or attenuate systolic blood pressure drops following a dietary nitrate load, indicating that not all mouthwashes disrupt the nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide pathway.

Why this might work

When you eat nitrate-rich foods like beetroot, your body sends the nitrate to your saliva. Bacteria on your tongue turn that nitrate into nitrite, which you swallow. Your blood absorbs the nitrite and turns it into nitric oxide, which relaxes your blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. Mouthwashes with strong antibacterial agents kill those tongue bacteria and block this process, but mouthwashes without strong antibacterial agents do not.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study

  1. Study: A stepwise reduction in plasma and salivary nitrite with increasing strengths of mouthwash following a dietary nitrate load.

    Like beetroot juice helps lower blood pressure by using mouth bacteria, some mouthwashes kill those bacteria and stop the benefit — but Listerine doesn’t. This study found Listerine lets the blood pressure drop continue, just like water, while stronger mouthwashes like chlorhexidine block it.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.