Study Links Mouthwash Use to Oral Cancer
A Mouth Rinse Containing Alcohol Increases Risk of Cancers
May 26, 2009
Oral cancer strikes approximately 34,000 Americans every year according to the American Cancer Society with an estimated 7,550 people succumbing to these cancers. The American Dental Association (ADA) and the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) both state that alcohol and tobacco use are proven risk factors in developing oral cancer. The CDA reports that it is especially dangerous to combine smoking and alcohol.
Linking Mouthwashes to Oral Cancer
In January 2009, a review published in the Dental Journal of Australia concludes there is now “sufficient evidence” that “alcohol-containing mouthwashes contribute to the increased risk development of oral cancer”. Professor Michael McCullough at Melbourne University says that some mouthwashes are more dangerous than beer or wine because they contain higher concentrations of alcohol, some as high as 26% proof.
Professor McCullough's research found that acetaldehyde is a toxic byproduct of alcohol that may accumulate in the mouth when rinsing, and in the medical community, it's believed to be carcinogenic. Ethanol, another ingredient in some mouthwashes is thought to allow cancer-causing substances to permeate the lining of the mouth more easily. McCullough stated, “We see people with oral cancer who have no other risk factors than the use of alcohol-containing mouthwash, so what we've done in this study is review all the evidence that's out there.”
Dr. Camile Farah, Director of Research at the University of Queensland's School of Dentistry, co-authored the review. She recommends that mouthwash be restricted to short-term medical use only or have only alcohol-free mouth rinses available on the market. She and McCullough say that those who drink alcohol have five times the risk of oral cancer if they regularly use mouthwashes that contain alcohol.
More Research
On April 23, 1991, The Wall Street Journal reported that Warner-Lambert Company was developing a lower-alcohol version of Listerine that contains 26.9% alcohol. This decision came in the wake of news reports that a pending study from the National Cancer Institute suggested that people using mouthwashes that contain high levels of alcohol face an increased risk of oral cancer. Joseph D. Williams, chairman and CEO of Warner-Lambert said that the plans to develop a lower alcohol formula was coincidental.
The National Cancer Institute stated that they could not firmly establish a definite link between mouthwashes with alcohol and oral cancer, but there is an increased risk.
Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is a disease resulting from abnormal cell growth in the mouth, throat, on the lips or tongue. People over the age of forty are most at risk and if caught early enough, oral cancer can be treated successfully. Other than alcohol and tobacco, other risk factors include:
- Sun: Cancer of the lip can be caused by exposure to the sun. Using a lip balm that has sun screen can reduce the risk or wearing a hat with a brim to block the sun's harmful rays.
- Personal history: People with a personal history of head and neck cancer are at increased risk of developing another primary head and neck cancer.
Symptoms Include:
- Patches in the mouth or on the lips that are white, red or a mixture of red and white.
- A sore on the lip or in the mouth that will not heal.
- Loose teeth.
- Difficulty or pain when swallowing.
- A lump in the neck.
- An earache.
- Difficulty wearing dentures.
Ongoing Debate
There's an ongoing debate between many professionals as to whether or not there is a concrete link between the use of mouthwashes with alcohol and oral cancer. Regardless of this debate, doing research into products that are natural as well as what is available on the store shelves is important. Getting advice from a family dentist can be beneficial in the quest of doing what is best for good oral health.
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