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DOES THE ALCOHOL IN MOUTHWASH CONTRIBUTE TO ORAL CANCER? - Posted 16.01.09 |
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(As reviewed in the Australian Dental Journal)
It has long been established that smoking and alcohol consumption are risk factors linked to the development of oral cancer. This review assesses the epidemiological evidence, supportive in vitro studies and mechanism by which alcohol is involved in the development of oral cancer. Further, we review the literature that associates alcohol-containing mouthwashes and oral cancer. On the basis of this review, it is now believed that there is sufficient evidence to accept the proposition that alcohol –containing mouthwashes contribute to the increased risk of development of oral cancer and further feel that it is inadvisable for oral healthcare professionals to recommend the long term use of alcohol- containing mouthwashes.
Alcohol is used in mouthwashes principally as a solvent for other ingredients. However, at 10-12 per cent it also acts as a preservative, antiseptic and caustic agent. In addition, studies have shown that high concentrations of alcohol in mouth rinses may have detrimental oral effects such as epithelial detachment, keratosis, mucosal ulceration, gingivitis and oral pain.
Whilst many of these products may have been shown to be effective in penetrating oral microbial biofilms in vitro and reducing oral bacterial load, it would be wise to restrict their use to short- term therapeutic situations if needed. Perhaps the use of mouthwashes that do not contain alcohol maybe equally effective. Further, mouth rinses should be prescribed by dentists, like any other medication. There may well be a reason for the use of alcohol- containing mouth rinses, but only for a particular situation and for a limited and controlled time. As such, patients should be provided with written instructions for mouthwash use, and mouthwash use should be restricted to adults for short durations and specific clearly defined reasons.
So in light of the current evidence available of the association of alcohol –containing mouthwashes with the development of oral cancer, it would be inadvisable for oral healthcare professionals to recommend the long term use of alcohol- containing mouthwashes.
Some commercially available mouth rinses that contain alcohol are:
*LISTERINE
*LISTERINE TARTAR CONTROL
*LISTERINE CITRUS FRESH
*CEPACOL
*SAVACOL
*NEUTROFLOUR 900
*ORAL B
*FLUOROCARE 200
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