Rinsing with mouthwash may improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to a recent study published in . scientific report. Diabetes can increase the risk of severe periodontitis (a chronic inflammatory infection that can lead to tooth loss in adults), and periodontitis can lead to hyperglycemia and poor blood sugar control, leading to oral disease. It is important to find available treatments for.
“Among the variety of self-care products available, mouthwash is one of the easiest to use for people who want to improve their oral hygiene,” the authors write.
T2D is a metabolic disease caused by insulin resistance or insufficient insulin secretion. T2D patients tend to experience chronic hyperglycemia, which can lead to other complications. More T2D patients have more pro-inflammatory mediators (interleukin-1b, tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, oxidative stress) and therefore experience periodontitis.
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Red complex species are the main type of periodontal pathogen species associated with the progression of periodontitis. Previous studies have also shown an association between an increase in red complex species and poor glycemic control, while mouthwashes have been shown to have antibacterial effects against these bacteria. The mouthwash contains chlorhexidine gluconate, which detaches the red complex species from the oral biofilm. However, there are few studies on the role of mouthwash in red complex species count and Hb1Ac, which are indicators of glycemic control.
Researchers conducted a study to analyze changes in the number of red complex species and HbA1c levels after gargling with water or mouthwash (chlorhexidine gluconate-based) for 6 months. They measured bacterial DNA and her HbA1c in saliva and blood samples, respectively.
Rinsing with mouthwash twice a day was more effective than water at preventing the growth of red complex bacteria, which causes periodontal disease. However, to achieve these antibacterial effects, the mouthwash must contain chlorhexidine gluconate, the authors write.
Mouthwash was also more effective than water at reducing these bacteria, but neither drug had a significant effect on HbA1c. Additionally, patients under 68 years of age had lower red complex levels after gargling with mouthwash compared to those over 69 years of age.
Younger patients also had significantly lower HbA1c levels than older patients, suggesting that mouthwash is an effective strategy to improve oral health and prevent T2D and age-related inflammation. I am.
There were also gender differences in the results. For men, mouthwash was effective in reducing red complex species, but gargling with water or mouthwash had no effect on reducing HbA1c compared to women.
This study has limitations. The researchers did not perform semi-quantification of bacteria. Additionally, data were collected only in internal medicine clinics, there was no standardized oral environment prior to saliva collection, and participants’ responses were inconsistent.
Future research efforts should consider various patient factors that may influence the effectiveness of mouthwash gargles on red complex species and HbA1c levels in this patient population.
“These results suggest that gargling with mouthwash reduces the number of red complex species and improves hyperglycemic status in T2DM patients, especially young patients,” the authors conclude.
reference
Susumu Matayoshi, Fumi Tojo, Yutaka Suehiro et al. Effects of mouthwash on periodontal pathogens and blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes. science officer 14/2777 (2024). Doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-53213-x
