Is Your Toothpaste Keeping You Awake At Night? The Link Between Oral Hygiene, Sleep, And Nitric Oxide

Having trouble falling asleep at night? Your toothpaste could be to blame.

Sounds like a stretch, but stick with me here. 

It turns out something as seemingly harmless as your toothpaste and mouthwash could be wreaking havoc on not just your oral health, but your overall health, including preventing you from getting your 8 hours of precious shut eye.

And that’s because the key to getting a restorative night of sleep lies not in counting sheep, but your body’s ability to produce nitric oxide.

Before we dive into how your oral health is connected to your nitric oxide production, let’s talk about what nitric oxide is and why it is important to your sleep.

Unlocking the Power of Nitric Oxide for Better Sleep

Nitric oxide (NO) isn't just a molecule; it's a key player when it comes to sleep regulation within the body. Understanding its role can offer insights into how we can improve the quality of our restorative slumber.

The Sleep-Related Benefits of Nitric Oxide:

Sleep Quality Enhancement: Nitric oxide plays a crucial role in improving sleep quality. Its involvement in regulating cerebral blood flow during sleep-wake cycles ensures smoother transitions between sleep stages, leading to more restful and rejuvenating sleep.

Circadian Rhythm Regulation: Nitric oxide influences the body's internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm. By modulating the release of neurotransmitters and hormones involved in sleep regulation, it helps maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle, promoting consistent and refreshing sleep patterns.

Brain Relaxation: Nitric oxide's vasodilatory properties extend to the brain, where it promotes relaxation of blood vessels. This relaxation facilitates optimal blood flow to brain regions involved in sleep control, promoting efficient sleep initiation and maintenance.

Adenosine Modulation: Nitric oxide interacts with adenosine, a neurotransmitter that promotes sleep and relaxation. By modulating adenosine levels in the brain, nitric oxide helps regulate the timing and duration of sleep, ensuring a balanced sleep-wake cycle.

Sleep Disorder Management: Research suggests that nitric oxide may play a role in managing sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea. By promoting relaxation and improving blood flow to respiratory muscles, it may alleviate symptoms and enhance sleep quality in individuals with these conditions.

Other Key Functions of Nitric Oxide:

While nitric oxide's role in sleep regulation is vital, its influence extends beyond the realm of sleep. This versatile molecule is involved in various physiological processes, including:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Immune Function
• Anti-Inflammatory Effects
• Memory and Behavior
• Endurance and Strength
• Gastric Motility
• Insulin Signaling
• Proper Erectile Functioning

Understanding the pivotal role of nitric oxide in both sleep and overall health sheds light on its importance as a multifaceted regulator within the body. 

It’s not just vital to getting a good night of sleep but it’s crucial for maintaining overall well-being and vitality.

Your Oral Health And Nitric Oxide Production

Good oral hygiene is obviously important for maintaining a cavity-free smile and fresh breath. So you diligently brush your teeth twice a day and even use a dentist-approved mouthwash. How could that be bad?

Commercial mouthwashes containing alcohol and other harsh chemicals not only kill harmful bacteria but also wipe out the beneficial bacteria that contribute to a healthy oral microbiome. This disruption can leave your mouth defenseless against cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.

Moreover, mouthwash interferes with the production of nitric oxide, potentially leading to issues such as high blood pressure, poor blood vessel function, and ultimately, poor sleep.

Fluoride, a staple in commercial toothpaste, has been shown to interfere with melatonin production, the hormone crucial for regulating sleep-wake cycles. Studies have revealed fluoride's capacity to disrupt nitric oxide synthesis, further impacting sleep patterns.

As oral health contributes to approximately 20% of nitric oxide production in the body, maintaining optimal oral hygiene practices supports not only a healthy mouth, but also overall well-being and sleep quality.

How to Improve Sleep and Nitric Oxide Production

Now that you understand the critical relationship between sleep quality and nitric oxide production, it's crucial to take proactive steps to ensure your nightly routine supports optimal health and well-being. 

Incorporate Nitric Oxide-Rich Foods: Consume foods that naturally boost nitric oxide levels in the body, such as leafy greens, beets, garlic, citrus fruits, and pomegranates.

Regular Physical Activity: Engage in aerobic exercises like jogging, swimming, or cycling regularly. Physical activity stimulates nitric oxide production and promotes better circulation, which can aid in sleep regulation.

Sun Exposure: Spend time outdoors during the day, especially in the morning. Natural sunlight exposure helps regulate circadian rhythms and enhances nitric oxide production, which can improve sleep quality at night.

Ensure Adequate Magnesium Intake: Magnesium is essential for nitric oxide synthesis and plays a role in relaxation and sleep regulation. Incorporate magnesium-rich foods like nuts, seeds, leafy greens, and whole grains into your diet, or consider taking a magnesium supplement if necessary.

Practice Nasal Breathing: Focus on nasal breathing rather than mouth breathing, especially during sleep. Nasal breathing promotes nitric oxide production in the sinuses, which can improve airflow and respiratory function during sleep. You may even want to consider mouth-taping to assist with this.

Relaxation Techniques: Incorporate relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness meditation into your bedtime routine. Relaxation promotes nitric oxide production and helps prepare the body and mind for restful sleep.

By incorporating these tips into your daily routine, you can optimize both your sleep quality and nitric oxide production for better overall health and vitality.

Optimizing Oral Health For Better Sleep And Nitric Oxide Production

Now that you've established a solid sleep routine to optimize nitric oxide production, it's crucial to also prioritize your oral health.

The health of your mouth not only affects your dental well-being but also plays a significant role in overall bodily functions. By maintaining proper oral hygiene practices, you not only ensure a healthy smile but also support optimal nitric oxide production, contributing to better sleep quality and overall health.

Here is how you can maintain a healthy mouth and optimize nitric oxide production.

Skip Fluoride and switch to a Clay-Based Toothpaste

Fluoride is in toothpaste because it supposedly prevents cavities. But in addition to hindering the production of nitric oxide, reducing testosterone levels in men, women and children, and being a proven neurotoxin, fluoride has been shown to prevent a mere 33% of cavities - which is not surprising, considering 92% of the population has both cavities and gum disease.

Instead, our Dirty Mouth Toothpowder or toothpaste is a natural alternative, formulated with 3 mineral-rich clays and nano-hydroxyapatite to detoxify your mouth and remineralize your teeth.  Our founder, Trina Felber, has this to say about her kids and their dental checkups:

"My three kids (ages 15, 13 and 13) have ZERO cavities- except for the 'natural' cavity that caused me to create my oral wellness program.  Their dentist is always shocked that they don't have any plaque build up.  And trust me, my kids, like all kids, love sugary sweets!  their dentist said 'your mom is going ot put me out of business!'  I just want to prevent cavities the right way" 

We believe in taking preventative measures... which is why Trina created her Dirty Mouth Dental Products.

This clay-based Toothpowder or Toothpaste effectively cleans and polishes teeth, prevents tartar buildup, balances saliva pH, reduces gum inflammation, and strengthens teeth, all without the harmful effects of fluoride.

It also comes in an unflavored formulation, if you are sensitive to flavors or essential oils.

Detoxing From Fluoride & Toxic Chemicals

To rid your mouth and body of the harmful effects of fluoride and toxic chemicals so you can optimize your nitric oxide production, we recommend you start with a Dental Detox. It’s a comprehensive 60-day mouth detoxification solution designed to cleanse, restore, and revitalize your oral health.

The Dental Detox Kit is complete with two Dirty Mouth Toothpowders, Gum Drops, a Copper Tongue Scraper, Bamboo-Charcoal Dental Picks, and a Bamboo-Charcoal Toothbrush. 

By committing to the 60-day detox program, you'll notice whiter, stronger teeth, fresher breath, better dental checkups, and also better sleep.

Sweet Dreams

In the pursuit of better sleep, every detail matters, including your choice of toothpaste. 

Say goodbye to restless nights and embrace the transformative power of nitric oxide and oral wellness. With Primal Life by your side, a blissful night's sleep is within reach.

Here's to brighter smiles, healthier mouths, and nights filled with peaceful dreams.

REFERENCES
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33602214/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7893939/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21782655/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6129794/ 

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/01.STR.32.3.761#