Using a common antibacterial mouthwash can increase the number of certain bacteria that produce nitrite, but actually makes those bacteria less effective at producing nitrite.
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
definitive
Can make definitive causal claims
Assessment Explanation
This is a randomized controlled trial with direct measurement of bacterial abundance and activity before and after intervention. The p-values of <0.001 indicate strong statistical significance, supporting definitive language for these specific quantitative findings.
More Accurate Statement
“Chlorhexidine mouthwash (0.2%) significantly increases the relative abundance of nitrite-producing species in the oral microbiome compared to baseline in healthy adults, while simultaneously impairing nitrite-producing activity.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
The comparative effect of propolis and chlorhexidine mouthwash on oral nitrite-producing bacteria and blood pressure regulation