mouthwash and cancer

So the papers are full of stories of how using mouthwash will result in mass death of the public from mouth cancer.  My phones are off the hook with people anxious to find out if they are reporting the truth.  Well the answer is…kinda, so  here are the facts

The latest frenzy was caused by new research that claimed using mouthwashes containing alcohol can increase the risk of mouth cancer by up to nine times.  The alcohol is thought to help  cancer causing toxins such as nicotine from permeating the mouth faster.  Hoeverver there were lots of gaps in the paper.

What was the alcohol content of the mouthwashes, what was the length of time it was used, how long did people keep the mouthwash in their mouth.  That’s why the jury is still out

What is undisputed fact is that smoking and drinking more than 3 units of alcohol a day (that’s only one large glass of wine!) is directly linked to mouth cancer.  So my advise, quit smoking and cut out the booze :)

As to which mouthwash if any to use?  My recommendation is always the same.  

Ask your dentist what works best for you.  One caveat though is to use a fluoride mouthwash, doesn’t matter which brand!

Flouride helps make your teeth more resistant to tooth decay so I use it on a daily basis…like most of you, I am not a fan of the dentist either so do what I can to strengthen my teeth.

Happy swishing!