Your mouthwash may raise your risk of diabetes

Your mouthwash may raise your risk of diabetes

Here’s a new twist on your daily oral care routine – using mouthwash daily may be putting you at an increased risk of diabetes, especially people already at a higher risk for the disease, according to a new study from researchers at Harvard.  Surprisingly, this study warns that taking a swill of mouthwash to freshen breath more than once a day kills not only harmful bacteria in the mouth but also helpful bacteria that may protect the body from obesity and diabetes.

Study on mouthwash and diabetes

Published in the journal Nitric Oxide, this research estimates that someone who uses mouthwash twice a day could be increasing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 55 percent.  An eye-opening finding was that almost a third of people who report using mouthwash more than twice a day had a higher incidence of being diagnosed with the disease after a three-year follow-up. 

The study, which was part of the San Juan Overweight Longitudinal Study in Puerto Rico, evaluated 1,206 overweight people between the ages of 40-65 without diabetes or any known history of coronary artery disease. 

Among the participants, 43 percent used mouthwash at least once a day while 22 percent used it at least twice a day. 

Each of the subgroups was already at a higher risk for developing prediabetes or diabetes.  Adjustments were made for education, income, sleep breathing disorders, factors related to oral hygiene, fasting glucose, diet, smoking, and obesity.

Why would mouthwash increase risk of diabetes?

The reasoning behind why what most of us assume is a beneficial practice in our mouth care, is that the antibacterial ingredients in mouthwash are not selective at what they destroy – they kill both bad oral bacteria but also good types of oral bacteria. 

Bad bacteria in the mouth contribute to the development of plaque and bad breath.  The more beneficial or good bacteria, however, can protect against diabetes and obesity since they produce a chemical called nitric oxide that helps to regulate insulin levels. 

Nitric oxide is critical for regulating metabolism or the rate at which we burn calories along with balancing energy and keeping blood sugar levels in check. 

Best advice on mouthwash use

Since this study only showed an association between frequent use of mouthwash and development of diabetes, it is not a cause and effect relationship.

For now, until more studies are conducted or data collected, limiting the use of mouthwash to once a day may be advisable.  This advice is especially true for anyone who is overweight, has a strong family history of diabetes or has an elevated hemoglobin A1C.  

Prevent eye infections by practicing good contact lenses habits

Prevent eye infections by practicing good contact lenses habits

If you wear contact lens, are you avoiding bad contact lenses habits?  How many of us have ever slept in lenses that are meant to be removed before bedtime, or jumped in a pool wearing our contacts, or worn them past their prescribed replacement date?  If you can honestly answer “yes” to any of the above, you are at risk of a serious contact lenses-related eye infection. 

The vast majority – 80 to 90 percent - of eye infections found in people who wear contact lenses are bacterial.  One of the more common and tough-to-treat bacteria is known as staphylococcus aureus.  The most severe infection one can get is pseudomonas aeruginosa.  This fast-growing bacterial infection can actually lead to the development of a hole in your cornea which can lead to a good chance of permanent scarring and vision loss.

Other possible risks of poor contact lenses management are fungal infections such as aspergillus or fusariam which also are a potential threat to your vision. 

The very best way with a high success rate in avoiding any type of infection for contact lenses wearers is to simply practice good contact lenses habits.  Faithfully following your optometrist or ophthalmologist’s recommendations on caring for contact lenses is another very safe bet helping you avoid facing the possibility of an infection threatening your eye health and vision.

·      Be alert to signs of an infection

Anytime there is something out-of-the ordinary with your eyes, it could be signaling an infection which includes the following:

·      Red, painful eyes

·      Watering or discharge from the eye(s)

·      Sensitivity to light

·      Blurred vision

·      Sensation of a foreign body in the eye(s)

At the first sign of any of the above symptoms, get it checked out by your eye doctor immediately.  Your vision is too important to risk long-term damage from an infection.

·      Never sleep, swim, or shower in your lenses

Unless you have contacts in which you can sleep in, do not do so otherwise.  If you are not for sure, ask your eye doctor. 

Tap water or water in a swimming pool, hot tub, lake, pond, or ocean are potential hazards to your contact lenses.  Water can contain pathogens or pollutants that can result in infections in your eyes if wearing your contacts.  One particularly dangerous infection sometimes found in water is acanthamoeba keratitis which is caused by a free-swimming amoeba.  This amoeba can cause visual impairment or even blindness.

·      Avoid sleeping in contact lenses

This again, needs to be addressed with your eye doctor on what they recommend as there are some brands of contact lenses that can be worn for several weeks before replacing them.  However, one of the biggest problems with sleeping or over-wearing the lenses is that your eye will not get sufficient oxygen.  The added oxidative stress will make the eye more vulnerable to various bacteria and pathogens that can lead to infections, inflammation and abrasions to the eye. 

Soft contact lenses are especially at risk as they create an ideal condition for pathogens to grow.

·      Always store and disinfect lenses properly

Every single day throw out the solution your contact lenses have been sitting in during the night.  Also be sure to replace lens cases at least once every three months.  Keeping a case too long will only lead to a buildup of pathogens within the case. 

·      Consider using a hydrogen peroxide solution

One of the best and most efficient methods of reducing bacteria is to store contact lenses in a hydrogen peroxide-based solution.  These solutions, which can be used daily, are sold in retail stores and are highly recommended by eye doctors. 

Discuss with our eye doctor as to which one they recommend for your particular type of contact lenses.  There are many different brands to choose from and some brands are geared for certain types of lenses.  Generally the recommendation is to store and soak your lenses in this solution for at least six hours.  Never put a hydrogen peroxide solution directly into your eyes as it will cause intense pain and burning.