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MEDIA RELEASE
1 December 2009
Consumers advised to use mouthwashes with care
Most people don’t give a lot of thought to the type of mouthwash they use, but different
mouthwashes have different purposes and some can have serious side effects, especially when
not used properly.
Writing in the latest edition of Australian Prescriber, dental researchers Camile Farah, Lidija
McIntosh and Michael McCullough warn of the potential side effects and recommend that
people choose a mouthwash based on their personal oral health, considering the benefits and
risks of each product.
“A mouthwash may be recommended to treat infection, reduce inflamed gums, relieve pain,
reduce bad breath or to deliver fluoride,” the authors write.
“However mouthwashes should only be used for short periods of time and only in addition to
brushing and flossing.”
The authors report there is increasing evidence of a direct relationship between the alcohol
content of mouthwashes and oral cancer and do not recommend long-term use of mouthwashes
containing alcohol.
“In people using these mouthwashes, the risk of getting cancer in the mouth or throat is
increased by over nine times in smokers, over five times in those who also drink alcohol, and by
almost five times in those who neither smoke nor drink alcohol," they write.
The high concentrations of alcohol in these mouthwashes can also increase the risk of gingivitis,
keratosis and mouth pain.
“Although many popular mouthwashes may help to control dental plaque and gingivitis, they
should only be used for a short time.”
“Long-term use of alcohol-containing mouthwashes should be discouraged given recent
evidence of a possible link with oral cancer, but fluoride mouthwashes should be encouraged in
people with a high risk of tooth decay,” the authors conclude.
Media enquiries to Katie Butt, NPS Media Adviser, 02 8217 8667 or kbutt@nps.org.au
Australian Prescriber is an independent peer-reviewed journal providing critical commentary on therapeutic topics for
health professionals, particularly doctors in general practice. It is published by the National Prescribing Service
Limited (NPS), an independent, not-for-profit organisation for quality use of medicines funded by the Australian
Government Department of Health and Ageing. Australian Prescriber is distributed every two months in hard copy to
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