A new study from Harvard University claims that frequent mouthwash use is associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The association, however, only existed for people who were using mouthwash at least twice a day, and the study only included people who had a number of pre-existing factors that put them at higher risk for developing the conditions.

The study, published on September 20 in Nitric Oxide, used data from 945 overweight or obese people who joined the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study, based in Puerto Rico.

“Participants who used mouthwash at least twice daily had 55 percent significantly increased risk of developing pre-diabetes or diabetes over a 3-year follow-up compared to less frequent users, and 49 percent higher risk compared to non-users of mouthwash,” the authors wrote.

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