Should I use mouthwash?

Mouthwash containing alcohol is thought to increase the risk of oral cancer, but no conclusive evidence has been found so far.

Mouthwash cleans away plaque, reduces bad breath and leaves you feeling refreshed. In most cases, mouthwash is harmless, says Matt Messina, a spokesman for the American Dental Association.

Photo: Time.

Since the 1990s, some studies have suggested that alcohol-based mouthwashes increase the risk of oral cancer, but have not provided conclusive evidence. Recently, a study published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine found that some mouthwash brands lead to high blood pressure by killing bacteria that produce nitric oxide, which protects the cardiovascular system. However, author Amrita Ahluwalia from Queen Mary University of London (UK) admitted that the results were only on 19 volunteers, so it was not enough to draw a conclusion.

"You don't have to rinse, but if you like it or have bad breath, there's no problem rinsing once or twice a day," Messina advises. Just be sure to choose an alcohol-free mouthwash, as alcohol-based products can dry out your mouth. Also, if you have gum disease or harmful bacteria in your mouth, you should consult your dentist.

Above all, never think that mouthwash will solve all problems.“I would say that mouthwash is an additional hygiene step, not a replacement,” Messina emphasizes. Even with mouthwash, you should still brush your teeth twice a day and see your dentist twice a year to maintain good oral health.

According to VNE