Hydrogen Water Mouthwash Reduced Tooth Decay-Causing Bacteria
Hydrogen-rich electrolyzed water is a useful mouthwash due to its biofilm-control properties: an in vitro and in vivo study
Research hubs: Digestive System
- Authors
- Ha-Young Youn, Ji-Hye Kim, Min-Jeong Cho, Su-Hyung Hong, Eun-Kyong Kim
- Journal
- Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
- Year
- 2025
- PMID
- 40340040
- Study Type
- Human
- Participants
- 24
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Dose
- gargling twice daily
- H₂ concentration
- 1.2 to 1.3 ppm
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Funding
- No external funding declared
- Conflicts of interest
- None declared
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 1 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- South Korea
TL;DR
Rinsing with hydrogen-rich electrolyzed water (HEW) can reduce dental plaque and the bacteria that cause it, making it a promising alternative to traditional mouthwash.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich electrolyzed water used as a mouthwash significantly reduced Streptococcus mutans bacteria and plaque buildup in a small human trial of 24 participants.
Summary
Researchers tested hydrogen-rich electrolyzed water (water treated with electricity to add hydrogen) as a mouthwash against Streptococcus mutans, a bacteria linked to tooth decay. In lab tests, the hydrogen-rich water reduced biofilm (sticky bacterial layers) formation without killing the bacteria itself. When 24 people used it as a mouthwash twice daily, they had fewer of these bacteria in their saliva and less plaque buildup compared to those using regular tap water.
Practical Takeaway
This small study suggests hydrogen-rich water may help reduce cavity-causing bacteria and plaque when used as a mouthwash, though the trial involved only 24 people and longer-term safety and effectiveness data are not yet available. More research with larger groups and longer follow-up periods would be needed to confirm whether this could be a practical alternative to conventional mouthwashes.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Previous studies have demonstrated the inhibitory effect of hydrogen-rich water on biofilm formation. However, hydrogen-rich electrolyzed water (HEW) has not been evaluated as mouthwash, despite being economical, convenient, and biologically safe. We assessed the antibiofilm effects…