Mouthwash can raise oral cancer risk 9-fold

Mouthwashes may be recommended to treat dental infection and inflammation, but Australian scientists have claimed that frequent use of these solutions, mostly alcohol-based, increases the risk of oral cancer up to nine times.

The dental researchers from the University of Queensland and the University of Melbourne said although many popular mouthwashes help in controlling dental plaque and gingivitis, they should only be used for a short time and only as an adjunct to other oral hygiene measures such as brushing and flossing.Among people using alcohol-based mouthwashes, the risk of oral cancer increases nine times if they smoked, and five times if they drank alcohol, the experts warned.

For non-drinkers using such mouthwashes, the risk of oral cancer is just under five times higher, the experts warn.Brands of mouthwash with more than 20% alcohol could have other harmful effects, including the gum disease gingivitis, flat red spots called petechiae and detachment of the cells lining the mouth, they said. “Long-term use of ethanol-containing mouthwashes should be discouraged, given recent evidence of a possible link with oral cancer,” they wrote.

There are many alcoholbased mouthwashes available in the market which contain up to 26% alcohol.