The Dangers of Mouthwash
Mouthwash is a consumer item associated with healthy living. People use mouthwash for two different reasons: for keeping breath fresh and helping fight plague and gum disease. The mouth rinse, usually made of alcohol, is held and swirled around the mouth after brushing and flossing as part of a daily dental regime. Despite mouthwash being manufactured as a health item, there is concern there may be hidden dangers of using it.
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Mouthwash and Oral Cancer
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A scientific study, conducted in Australia in 2009, found a link between oral cancer and mouthwashes containing alcohol. The review was published in the Dental Journal of Australia and called for all alcohol mouthwashes to be removed from shop shelves. The act of holding alcohol in your mouth for a prolonged time while you use mouthwash is thought to allow carcinogens to enter the mouth lining. The review said using alcohol mouthwash on a daily basis is a "significant risk factor" for developing oral cancers. A by-product of alcohol, acetaldehyde, is also believed to be cancer causing and may accumulate in the oral cavity when swished around the mouth.
Mouthwash and Children
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Mouthwash has also been criticized for putting children in danger. Mouthwashes often have an alcohol content as high as 25 percent, yet it is a product often used by children. Child mouthwashes are often marketed in bright bottles with fragrances, so there is concern children will drink the liquid. A young person consuming an alcoholic substance that strong is potentially harmful and should be avoided.
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Prevention/Solution
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Only mouthwashes which contain alcohol which have been linked to these dangers. Dozens of mouthwash products are alcohol-free, such as herbal mouthwash products which can be brought in health-food and drug stores.
Dental Hygeine
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Many dentists say using mouthwash is not a necessity. It is more important to brush your teeth rigorously and twice daily as well as using dental floss to remove plague from between your teeth. Brushing and flossing is an adequate dental routine without mouthwash. Dental rinses should only be used as an extra, not as a substitute for brushing or flossing. Otherwise, you are putting yourself at risk of tooth decay.
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References
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