The ethanol in mouthwash is thought to allow cancer-causing substances to permeate¹ the lining² of the mouth more easily and cause harm.

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

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.

He said they should only be available with a prescription³ 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 nicotine⁴ to penetrate⁵ the lining of the mouth more easily.

And it can mean a toxic⁶ breakdown⁷ 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.

 一位专家近日称，漱口水可能会导致口腔癌，并呼吁超市停售这类产品。

澳大利亚一名科学家对近期的一些相关研究进行调研后做出评论：目前有“足够的证据”可证明含有酒精的漱口水会增加患口腔癌的风险。

麦克尔•迈克洛夫教授称，一些漱口水比葡萄酒或啤酒还要危险，因为它们所含的酒精浓度较高，达到26%。该研究结果在《澳大利亚口腔健康》期刊上发表。

迈克洛夫教授指出，漱口水应需处方才能购买，而且建议只能短期使用。

他说：“我们发现口腔癌患者正是使用了含有酒精的漱口水，而并未涉及其它风险因素，所以在这项研究中，我们深入分析了现有的全部病例。”

吸烟和饮酒已被认定为口腔癌的主要发病因素，每年英国有五千人患口腔癌，死亡病例达1600人。

来自墨尔本大学的迈克洛夫教授称，漱口水中的酒精会导致烟碱等致癌物更易渗入口腔内壁。

而且酒精的代谢产物乙醛也容易通过漱口过程在口腔中堆积，这种物质也会致癌。

该评论报告了一项有3210人参加的全球性研究提供的证据。这项研究发现，每天用漱口水是导致患头颈癌的一个“很重要的风险因素”。

Vocabulary:

mouthwash:漱口水

cancer-causing substance:致癌物质