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A Correlation between alcohol-based mouthwash and oral cancer? An area of concern

Hidayah Mohammed Elyas

Oral and pharynx cancer represent a serious global problem. Approximately 54,000 people in the US will be newly diagnosed with oral cancer in 2021.The incidence of oral and pharynx cancer of half a million per year resulting in 250.000 deaths annually in United States. A bout 90% of oral cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. The main cause of oral squamous cell carcinoma is unknown, but some studies had palmed many factors as risk for head and neck cancer. The most common risk factors are tobacco, alcohol. Poor oral hygiene and chronic infection from Human Papillomavirus (HPV) also considered risk factors. Using more than one of these factors will increase the malignant possibility.

Studies linking alcohol-containing mouthwash to oral cancer go back to 1979. Many mouthwashes contain alcoholic concentrations between 5 - 27%. Alcoholic solutions have ability of penetration in soft tissues (in 30 seconds). In alcohol beverages there is an ethanol that contain acetaldehyde, the first metabolite of ethanol, plays an important role in the carcinogenesis of alcohol in oral, pharynx, larynx and esophagus cancer. A study reviewed the cases of 2748 head and neck cancer patients in Europe and Latin America concluded that, a twice-a-day mouthwash use with alcohol up to 30 % was a significant risk factor for head and neck cancer.

Poor oral hygiene has same effect of alcohol in term of increasing the production of acetaldehyde, producing a carcinogenic potential in the oral cavity and upper airways.