Does gargling mouthwash lead to better sugar control for diabetics?

More than bad breath, there is growing evidence that ongoing inflammation in the mouth, like gum disease, is associated with serious diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease or type 2 diabetes. Researchers from Osaka University have identified an easy way to fight bacteria that might cause such problems.

In a study published this month in Scientific Reports, the researchers reported that when people with type 2 diabetes gargled with an antiseptic mouthwash, the number of periodontitis-related bacteria decreased. Some patients with reduced bacteria also achieved much better blood sugar control, hinting at promising future clinical applications.

Saaya Matayoshi, lead author of the study, explained, “There are three highly virulent bacterial species that are linked to periodontitis, or diseases of the tissues surrounding the teeth. We decided to see if we could reduce these three species—Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia—in patients with type 2 diabetes using a mouthwash containing the antiseptic chlorhexidine gluconate.”