Source: Oral Oncol, October 24, 2008
Author: Carlo La Vecchia

The possible relationship between mouthwash use and oral cancer risk has been the subject of at least 10 case-control studies published over the last three decades. Three of these reported relative risks above unity and seven no consistent association.

Only a few studies, moreover, included information on different types of mouthwash, and addressed the issue of alcohol-containing mouthwash. Thus, critical review of published data revealed that a link between mouthwash use, specifically alcohol-containing mouthwash, and oral cancers is not supported by epidemiological evidence.

Author’s affiliation:
Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri” Milano e Istituto di Statistica Medica e Biometria “G.A. Maccacaro”, Universit degli Studi di Milano, Via Giuseppe La Masa 19, 20156 Milano, Italy