Using a special mouthwash for a week killed some good bacteria in the mouth, which made less nitrite in saliva and blood, and this caused blood pressure to go up a little bit.
Scientific Claim
Disruption of oral nitrate-reducing bacteria using chlorhexidine mouthwash for 7 days reduced salivary nitrite production by approximately 90% and plasma nitrite levels by 25% in healthy young adults, with these changes correlating with increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 2-3.5 mmHg.
Original Statement
“Antiseptic mouthwash treatment reduced oral nitrite production by 90% (p < 0.001) and plasma nitrite levels by 25% (p = 0.001) compared to the control period. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased by 2-3.5 mmHg, increases correlated to a decrease in circulating nitrite concentrations (r2 = 0.56, p = 0.002).”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The study design (crossover without randomization or placebo control) only supports association, not causation. The language 'reduced', 'increased', and 'correlated' appropriately reflects the correlational nature of the findings.
More Accurate Statement
“Disruption of oral nitrate-reducing bacteria using chlorhexidine mouthwash for 7 days was associated with a reduction in salivary nitrite production by approximately 90% and plasma nitrite levels by 25% in healthy young adults, with these changes correlating with increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 2-3.5 mmHg.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Physiological role for nitrate-reducing oral bacteria in blood pressure control