NOT SO FRESH
Using top mouthwash brand could increase your risk of 2 deadly cancers and should not be used every day, scientists warn
Find the full list of mouthwashes linked to increased cancer risk below
A SCIENTIST has warned Listerine may increase the risk of two deadly cancers and that people should not be using it every day.
Daily gargling of the Cool Mint flavour was found to increase the level of two bacteria in the mouth in a recent study.
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Both bacteria have previously been linked to oesophageal and bowel cancer.
It is believed that the alcohol in the mouthwash interferes with the normal level of bacteria in the mouth.
After three months of Listerine use, two species of bacteria – Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus anginosus – were found to be at much higher levels.
Scientists from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, also saw a decrease in a group of bacteria called Actinobacteria, which have previously been found to contribute to the regulation of blood pressure.
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Professor Chris Kenyon, a scientist at the university who worked on the study, told that using the mouthwash "could increase their risk of cancer and various infections".
He also claimed: "Most people should not be using it and if they do use it, they should use the preparations without alcohol and limit the use to a couple of days."
Prof Kenyon and his colleagues discovered during an investigation into the impact of daily mouthwash use on STI risk among gay men when they made the finding.
The 59 participants used Listerine every day for three months followed by three months of placebo mouthwash or vice versa.
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While the experiment only included Listerine, Prof Kenyon said that similar levels of bacteria would likely be found using other alcohol-based mouthwashes.
Listerine Cool Mint is 20 per cent alcohol but alcohol-free mouthwash alternatives are available in most high street pharmacies and are recommended by the scientists of the latest study.
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Listerine is one of the most common mouthwashes in the world. The company is owned by Kenvue.
A spokesperson from Kenvue said: "Studies on the impact of LISTERINE® on oral health have been published in hundreds of peer-reviewed publications for more than a century, making it one of the most extensively tested oral mouthwash brands in the world.
"We continuously evaluate the latest science.
"There is no evidence that LISTERINE® causes cancer."
Which mouthwashes are alcohol-free?
WHETHER you need to freshen your breath or give you teeth some exta love and care, mouthwash is a great way to boost your oral care routine.
Many mouth rinses contain alcohol — specifically ethanol.
At about 20 per cent, the alcohol concentration is not high enough to destroy the odour-causing and decay-causing bacteria in your mouth.
Instead, the alcohol is used as a preservative ingredient and as a carrier for the other active ingredients in mouthwash, not as an antiseptic ingredient.
Several studies have suggested people who use alcohol-based washes are at risk of dry mouth or burning.
Alcohol also destroys almost all the bacteria in the mouth — both the good and the bad.
Alcohol-free mouthwash does not destroy all the bacteria but creates a new balance of bacteria in the mouth.
Here are some alcohol-free alternatives:
- Colgate Plax Cool Mint Mouthwash 500ml
- Corsodyl Fresh Mint Gum Care Alcohol-Free Daily Mouthwash 500ml
- Listerine Cool Mint Milder Taste Mouthwash 500ml
- Dentyl Advanced Protection Double Strength Dual Action Fresh Clove Mouthwash 500ml
Source: Healthline & Alliance Dental
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