How does the oral microbiome influence blood pressure and vascular health?

Certain oral bacteria can convert nitrate from plant-based foods into nitrite.

Through further metabolic pathways, nitric oxide (NO) can be formed from this, an important signaling substance for the regulation of vessel diameter and blood flow.

This so-called nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway shows that the oral microbiome not only has protective functions but is also involved in physiological metabolic processes.