How healthy is chlorhexidine?
Do you suffer from inflamed gums or a wound in your mouth after pulling a wisdom tooth? Chances are, your dentist prescribed a chlorhexidine-based mouthwash for you. It is known as one of the few agents that has a strong antibacterial effect. But what exactly is it? And how healthy is it to use chlorhexidine?
It kills bacteria, but it’s also chemical
Chlorhexidine is a chemical commonly used to reduce or kill bacteria in your mouth. It destroys the cell of a bacteria, preventing it from multiplying or dying off completely. When chlorhexidine comes in contact with your skin it adheres, remaining active in the mouth for several hours.
The dentist or oral surgeon may prescribe the drug in the form of a rinse, gel or toothpaste. Thus, it can be used not only throughout the mouth but also locally, when you have a wound or suffer from receding gums, for example.
And not without side effects
Whereas chlorhexidine can solve some oral problems, it can actually cause various other complaints. This is because it also kills good bacteria, which are essential for proper balance and thus good oral health. Known side effects of chlorhexidine include change in taste, discoloration of teeth, tongue and gums, and painful sores and mouth ulcers. Although these symptoms usually disappear when you stop using the product, it is good to be aware of the possible (side) effects.
There are also natural alternatives
Dentist Eric-Jan Royakkers prefers to choose natural alternatives in his practice, because they are ever present. “In a wound you don’t want to have bacteria, but that doesn’t mean you can only fight them with chemicals,” Rooijakkers explains. “For years I’ve been using the professional wound gel from blue®m with active oxygen in it instead of chlorhexidine. It does exactly what I want, without the annoying side effects like loss of taste and discoloration.”
In addition, blue®m mouthwash is also a proven, body-friendly alternative to rinses containing chlorhexidine. A Canadian microbiologist, Céline Lévesque, concluded in a study that oxygenated mouthwash proved to be almost 10 times more effective than chlorhexidine in certain situations. You can read the entire study here.
New research
New groundbreaking research just published shows that blue®m oral gel has more advantages than chlorhexidine. The bacteria that cause gum inflammation are combated better and in a gentler way with oral gel than with chlorhexidine. And this without side effects such as discolouration of the tongue and teeth. This has been extensively tested in a lab. You can find the entire study here.
Stay critical of what you are prescribed
Whether you’re in the chair at the dentist’s or family doctor’s office, always remain critical of what you’re prescribed. Above all, ask lots of questions about the product; your doctor knows all the answers. And if you are at home and you have doubts, always google the name of the product and the active ingredients, read the leaflet carefully and be aware of the (side) effects. After all, you are responsible for your own body and health.