Mouthwashes can cause oral cancer and should be removed from supermarket shelves, an expert said last night.

There is 'sufficient evidence' that those containing alcohol contribute to increased risk of the disease, according to a review of the latest studies by an Australian scientist.

Professor Michael McCullough, whose findings are published in the Dental Journal of Australia, said some mouthwashes were more dangerous than wine or beer because they contained higher concentrations of alcohol - as high as 26 per cent proof.

He said they should only be available with a prescription and for short-term use.

'We see people with oral cancer who have no other risk factors than the use of alcohol-containing mouthwash, so what we've done in this study is review all the evidence that's out there,' he said.

Smoking and alcohol consumption are well-established risk factors in oral cancer which is diagnosed in 5,000 people in the UK each year, and causes 1,600 deaths.

Professor McCullough, from Melbourne University, said the alcohol in mouthwash allows cancer-causing substances such as nicotine to penetrate the lining of the mouth more easily.

And it can mean a toxic breakdown product of alcohol called acetaldehyde - another carcinogen - can accumulate in the oral cavity when swished around the mouth.

The review reported evidence from an international study of 3,210 people which found daily mouthwash use was a 'significant risk factor' for head and neck cancer.

The effects were worst in smokers who had a nine-fold increased risk of cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx. Those who drank alcohol had more than five times the risk.

Last night a British Dental Association spokesman said the evidence was 'not conclusive' and more research was needed.

Yinka Ebo, from Cancer Research UK, said: ' Mouthwash users may be more likely to have poor oral hygiene so more research is needed to find out if it's the mouthwash or the poor oral hygiene that increases the risk of mouth cancer.'

A spokesman for Johnson & Johnson, which makes Listerine, dismissed the claim.

He said: 'This small review includes only a selective group of clinical data. Evidence from at least ten epidemiological studies published over the last three decades strongly suggests that use of alcohol-containing rinses does not increase the risk of oral cancer.'

I guess the next thing will be for it to be banned

Next they'll be telling us eating food can cause oral cancer, maybe even anal cancer to boot!

Are apples still good for you

...or are they carcinogenic as well these days?

Hummm - mouthwash & tonic please, with a slice of lemon

PMSL

Snod

Well ..... they reckon apples are worse for your teeth than a mars bar, 'cos the apple bits stick between your teeth and hold the acid against the teeth, however the mars bar dissolves quite quickly.

Apple pips contain very small amounts of cyanide in them.

Smart Arse(s)

You did ask!
I wonder how many apple seeds you'd have to ingest to be considered poisoned?

And to think, when I was younger I was scared by my Nan who said if I ate them an apple tree would grow inside me....

.....but then I reached 25 and realised she was pulling my leg

Well i'll start brushing my teeth with bleach then at least then i know i wont get cancer but just a sore mouth LOL

Is it just me or does this not make sense?

'The review reported evidence from an international study of 3,210 people which found daily mouthwash use was a 'significant risk factor' for head and neck cancer.

The effects were worst in smokers who had a nine-fold increased risk of cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx. Those who drank alcohol had more than five times the risk.'

Isn't it obvious its because they are smokers and drinkers that they have an increased risk? Not because they happen to use mouthwash as well!

SO if you don't smoke or drink excessively, surely that means you are in the low-risk group for getting head or neck cancer from mouthwash.

Bloody statistics - I hates them, truth be told!