Alcohol-containing mouthwash causes cancer? Should the mouthwash be used?

Alcohol in mouthwash raises cancer risk

According to the British "Daily Mail" recently reported that Newcastle University dental professor Seymour said that many mouthwashes contain alcohol, some content up to 25%. This is mainly to make the menthol and eucalyptus oil in the mouthwash function and penetrate and decompose the plaque, but at the same time, the alcohol will cause the mouth to dry and destroy the mucus protective layer that keeps the mouth moist, resulting in no breath. Good and cause a tingling sensation. Some mouthwashes can also cause the teeth to turn yellow.

In addition, a study published in the Australian Dental Journal in 2009 showed that alcohol in mouthwashes can cause carcinogens such as nicotine, which can penetrate the protective layer of the mouth more easily and increase the risk of cancer.

Professor Seymour suggested that the mouthwash should be used to listen to the doctor's advice. For example, a doctor may recommend high-fluorine mouthwash for patients with gingivitis. If you don't have any dental problems, you can use a non-alcoholic mouthwash. It should also be noted that the removal of plaque contained in the mouthwash can be used within 10 days and is not recommended for long-term use.

"Chlorhexidine gluconate" component of affecting the taste

There are various formulas for mouthwashes sold in the market, such as thymol, triclosan, chlorhexidine gluconate and the like. Among them, chlorhexidine gluconate has been shown to effectively inhibit the growth of dental plaque and prevent periodontal disease, but it has also been found that if used for a long time, it will cause dental stains to deposit on the surface of the teeth and affect the taste. Mouthwashes, which generally contain chlorhexidine gluconate, are formulated for patients with periodontal disease, oral ulcers, or those who have undergone oral surgery, but should not be used for long periods of time to avoid deposits.

According to the Hong Kong Department of Health, the average person does not need to use mouthwash. It is enough to brush your teeth in the morning and evening and to use flossing. Some people use alcohol-containing mouthwashes, which may cause dryness and discomfort in the mouth and lips, and even temporarily lose their taste. It is recommended that people with dry mouth should not use it.

Blind use of mouthwash is not conducive to oral health

Mouthwash can refresh the mouth, remove the food residue and some soft dirt in the mouth to a certain extent, and temporarily reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth. The main ingredient of mouthwash is oral fresheners, which are the products that are sold in shopping malls or supermarkets. The main function of this type of mouthwash is to remove the bad smell of the mouth, can not brush the plaque on the teeth, some small gaps will still leave food, but also can not play a role in the treatment of periodontal disease and dental caries. In addition, there are some normal flora in the mouth of healthy people, and many mouthwashes contain anti-inflammatory ingredients to inhibit the continued development of certain types of oral flora. Under this circumstance, the remaining flora in the oral cavity may increase, resulting in the imbalance of the proportion of human oral flora in the natural environment, which is not conducive to oral health.

(Editor: Xu Xiaoyu)

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