Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Should chlorhexidine mouthwash be a concern for blood pressure in dental patients?
Mahdi Mutahar1, Akram Alshirah2, Essam Ahmed Al-Moraissi3
1School of Dentistry, Health and Care Professions, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK. mahdi.mutahar@port.ac.uk.
A Commentary On:
Toonen LSJ, et al. The Effect of Chlorhexidine Mouthwash on Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Dent Hyg. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1111/idh.70035 .
Objective:
To evaluate whether current clinical evidence supports an association between chlorhexidine mouthwash (CHX-MW) use and changes in blood pressure in human populations.
Data Sources:
Evidence was derived from a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies identified through PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane CENTRAL up to December 2024.
Study Selection:
Randomised, controlled, and observational studies evaluating blood pressure following chlorhexidine mouthwash use were included.
Methods:
Evidence was synthesised through narrative review and meta-analysis, with methodological quality and risk of bias assessed using established appraisal frameworks.
Results:
Five studies met the inclusion criteria. Although two studies reported small increases in blood pressure, the pooled analysis found no statistically or clinically significant effect of chlorhexidine mouthwash on systolic or diastolic blood pressure.
Conclusions:
Current evidence does not demonstrate a clinically meaningful effect of chlorhexidine mouthwash on blood pressure, but certainty remains low due to methodological limitations and indirectness of study populations.
Related Concept Videos
Special considerations while measuring blood pressure
Monitoring Both Arms:
Monitoring BP in both arms during the initial assessment is advisable, as the systolic value may differ by five to ten mm Hg between arms. For subsequent BP assessments, use the arm with the higher reading.
Pre-Procedural Guidelines for Assessing Blood Pressure
Alterations in Blood Pressure
Hypertension (High blood pressure)
Hypertension occurs when blood pressure readings consistently exceed the normal range. It is diagnosed when systolic blood pressure (the top number, indicating pressure while the heart beats)...
Hypertension V: Nursing Management
Antihypertensive Drugs: Thiazide-Class Diuretics
Factors affecting Blood pressure
Physiological Factors: