Strong mouthwash may impair your performance in bed

It may seem like a harmless routine to flush your mouth with a strong mouthwash to maintain fresh breath and good oral hygiene. But according to new statements from experts, this particular practice may have unexpected and serious consequences for your sexual health.

Dentist Dr. Staci Whitman from Oregon warns against uncritical use of strong, astringent mouthwash. At the Hanberman Lab health podcast, she explained that these products not only fight bacteria in the mouth, as they can also damage the body’s ability to produce important chemicals that play a central role in the circuit and thus the sexual function.

« If we uncritical carpet bombs with these really strong means, we can affect our cardiovascular health, » she says.

« There are studies that show that it can raise blood pressure and potentially cause problems with the cardiovascular system, which can also impair sexual performance. »

But it is not just mouthwash that raises concern – because you breathe through your mouth instead of the nose, so it can have consequences for men’s sexual health.

« When you breathe through your mouth, you absorb less nitric oxide, which is essential for blood flow throughout the body, including to the genitals, » explained Whitman. « Men with gum disease are also almost three times more likely to experience erectile dysfunction. »

Nitrogen oxide is a key in the body’s regulation of blood vessels, and a reduced amount can lead to poorer blood circulation. Something that can hit men’s performance in the bedroom hard.

To get better at breathing through the nose – thus increasing the body’s ability to absorb nitric oxide – Whitman recommends the use of mouth tape at night.

It forces the body to breathe through the nose and can thus support both oral hygiene, cardiovascular health and sexual function.