I came across a rather interesting study this morning:

Using mouthwash after exercising could negatively impact the cardiovascular benefits of working out, particularly lowering blood pressure.

The findings, published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine and led by researchers at the University of Plymouth in England, detail how using mouthwash after working out can prevent your body from reaching — and staying — in a low blood pressure range for a period of time post-exercise. Exercise has long been known to reduce blood pressure, though how exactly blood pressure levels stay low for hours after exercise has been a source of much debate.

For the study, which focused on the role of oral bacteria in reducing blood pressure following exercise, 23 healthy adults were asked to run on the treadmill for two 30 minute sessions. After working out, participants were monitored for two hours. [Some of the adults used a placebo mouthwash and others an antibacterial mouthwash immediately after the workout.]

“These results show that the blood pressure-lowering effect of exercise was diminished by more than 60 percent over the first hour of recovery, and totally abolished two hours after exercise when participants were given the antibacterial mouthwash.”

The findings show how important oral bacteria are to opening the body’s blood vessels. “These findings show that nitrite synthesis by oral bacteria is hugely important in kick-starting how our bodies react to exercise over the first period of recovery, promoting lower blood pressure and greater muscle oxygenation,” he said. “In effect, it’s like oral bacteria are the ‘key’ to opening up the blood vessels. If they are removed, nitrite can’t be produced and the vessels remain in their current state."

Source: Using mouthwash after exercise has this bizarre effect on blood pressure, study claims

I guess the take-away is do not use antibacterial mouthwash after exercise. Allow your body to absorb the positive effects of the workout.

I saw this in my Google suggestions !

All I could think of is who uses mouthwash directly after exercise? I guess people who exercise early and get ready after/at the gym?

I personally have always brushed my teeth before any activities in the A.M. because i head to the bathroom first.

Very interesting....

I saw this in my Google suggestions !
All I could think of is who uses mouthwash directly after exercise? I guess people who exercise early and get ready after/at the gym?
I personally have always brushed my teeth before any activities in the A.M. because i head to the bathroom first.
Very interesting....

Ditto!!!

Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I have seen some strange “studies” in my days, and I add this one to the list of “needs replication”. In the eyes of research, studying 23 individuals hardly proves a hypothesis and simply provides a basis for further inquiry. Go ahead and use your mouthwash!