Neisseria is a health-associated bacterial genus that converts dietary nitrate into nitric oxide — the molecule your blood vessels use to stay relaxed. It's part of the healthy oral community, responds strongly to leafy greens, and is consistently depleted in smokers.
Eat more leafy greens and beets. In a controlled trial, 10 days of dietary nitrate raised Neisseria by 351% — the largest response of any oral genus. If you smoke, quitting recovers Neisseria toward never-smoker levels over 5+ years.
Daily chlorhexidine and alcohol-based mouthwashes. They reduce overall oral nitrate-reducing capacity by 78–85% and have measurable effects on blood pressure within one day.
Synthesized from 15 peer-reviewed sources · Last updated May 2026
This information is for wellness purposes only and is not a medical assessment. Always consult a medical professional about any health concerns.