Listerine KILLS more than germs

Don't use antiseptic mouthwash

AI Overview
Frequent use of antibacterial mouthwash can unintentionally raise your blood pressure and increase hypertension risk. These rinses kill the beneficial bacteria in your mouth that your body needs to produce nitric oxide, a natural compound required to relax and dilate blood vessels.

AI Overview
Frequent use of strong antiseptic mouthwash can raise blood pressure. Antibacterial ingredients like chlorhexidine kill beneficial oral bacteria needed to convert dietary nitrates into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide relaxes blood vessels, and losing it can increase hypertension risk.

My recent personal experience:
     All my life I've had normal blood pressure readings, even during pregnancy.  Except for a period of a few months in 2018 when I had a bad tooth.  Once the bad tooth was extracted, my readings went back to normal.  Then, in fall of 2025 I got the notion to increase my oral hygiene and started using mouthwash.  After a few weeks my blood pressure readings were suddenly alarming 200/100.  These alarming readings were consistent over several days.  I finally went to the local emergency clinic in Smithville, Tennessee.
     At the clinic 2 different assistants took several readings over the next half hour using 3 different machines, — the last machine looked like it came out of storage, it was wheeled in and had the old-fashioned hand pump.   Finally they called the doctor, who prescribed 10mg lisinopril.  I asked what was the cause, since no way did I have that hypertension that comes in stages (atherosclerosis)...  I was told that my hypertention is "idio-pathic" which means there is no cause.  And that I need to get a primary care physician.  And I was assured that the PC will certainly not seek after a cause; and if I don't go on medication, then I will go blind and then have a stroke.
     The emergency doctor was right about the PC physician not caring to seek after a cause.  My PC physician told me that many people live the rest of their lives on lisinopril — that I should be happy because I'm on a low dose.
     I pressed my PC physician to seek after a cause.   So, I was given some tests: liver, kidney, "blood work" which includes sugar.  All results came back not just normal, but nearly ideal.  I was given a year's prescription for the lisinopril, and that was supposed to be the end of it.
     But.  I am not insured.  I pay my doctor bills myself.  So I am able to have some say.  I pressed again to find a cause.  The Google internet says that hormones can cause hypertension, so I asked my doctor for some hormone tests.  The results of the hormone tests were normal, and again, not just normal, but nearly ideal.

     ok.  I rule out hormones... where do I look next?  Again I found something on the internet — ORAL MICROBIOM.  Certain bacteria in a healthy mouth produce nitric oxide which regulates arteries.  And antiseptic mouthwashes kill those beneficial bacteria.
 
     I immediately stopped using mouthwash.  Tom's® toothpaste went into the trash, along with the Orbit® gum (xylitol).  I understood that it would take 2–4 weeks for my oral biome to be restored, so I tapered off the lisinopril accordingly.

I leave here 2 links:

1.)   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7567004/  

    I highlight the word "reluctance" in this article because I ask, how come neither my emergency doctor nor my PC considered this cause?  I had told both of them about my recent increased oral hygiene.

2.) https://revitin.com
     Dr. Gerry Curatola

I am totally hooked on this toothpaste.  Really amazing.  Unexpected surprises..  I subscribed, and I ordered the travel size 3-pack so I can give away samples.