London - Heavy use of mouthwashes may lead to a higher risk of oral cancer, an expert claims.
Research suggests that people rinsing with such products more than three times a day have a greater chance of developing mouth and throat cancer.
Dr David Conway, of the University of Glasgow Dental School, said people should not routinely use a mouthwash. Poor oral health – one of the reasons people regularly use the rinses – also plays a part in cancer risk, he said.
The research supports an Australian study in 2009, which said there was “sufficient evidence” that mouthwashes containing alcohol contribute to an increased risk of the disease, because they allow cancer-causing substances to penetrate the lining of the mouth more easily.
In the latest study, in journal Oral Oncology, University of Glasgow researchers and European colleagues assessed 1 962 cancer sufferers and 1 993 healthy people. Those with poor oral health, including people with dentures and persistently bleeding gums, were at greater risk, they found.
Dr Conway said: “I would not advise routine use of mouthwash…all that’s necessary in general is good regular brushing…and flossing, combined with regular check-ups by a dentist.” He added there may be a link between excessive mouthwash rinsing and people who use it to mask the smell of smoking and alcohol – independent risk factors for oral cancer.
But Professor Damien Walmsley, adviser to the British Dental Association, said the study was not “conclusive”. - Daily Mail