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Alcohol-Containing Mouthwash and the Risk of Oral Cancer: Exploring the Association

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Abstract

Oral cavity and larynx cancers are generally associated with tobacco consumption, alcohol abuse or both. Mouthwashes are liquid antiseptic solutions that decrease the microbial load in the oral cavity. Alcohol is often used in mouthwashes for its antiseptic functions and as a carrier for some active ingredients, including menthol or thymol, helping them penetrate the plaque. There is some evidence for alcohol-containing mouthwash use which is associated with the potential risk of developing carcinoma of oral cavity. The results are inconclusive, as actual mouthwash use patterns may be inconsistent and cannot be easily quantified. Based on the available data, there is no sufficient evidence to accept the proposition that the use of mouthwashes containing alcohol can influence the development of oral cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Bangalore, India

    Karthik Nagaraja Rao

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head Neck Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, India

    Rupa Mehta & Prajwal Dange

  3. SRM Medical College Hospital & Health Sciences, Potheri, India

    Nitin M. Nagarkar

Authors
  1. Karthik Nagaraja Rao
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  2. Rupa Mehta
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  3. Prajwal Dange
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  4. Nitin M. Nagarkar
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Correspondence to Karthik Nagaraja Rao.

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Rao, K.N., Mehta, R., Dange, P. et al. Alcohol-Containing Mouthwash and the Risk of Oral Cancer: Exploring the Association. Indian J Surg Oncol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13193-024-01948-4

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