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Christophe Lequart (Oral health)
According to a recent Belgian study, an antiseptic mouthwash would have an impact on the oral flora which it would modify, and would thus be associated with possible cancers. A reality ? We asked Dr. Christophe Lequart, dentist, the question.
Alert in your bathroom! A popular hygiene product that gives fresh breath and purifies your mouth could put your health at risk. Antiseptic mouthwashes are believed to increase the levels of “bad” bacteria in the mouth, which could in turn increase the risk of gum disease and certain cancers.
A change in the oral microbiota
Researchers from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp (Belgium) observed the effects of alcohol-based mouthwashes (Listerine Cool mint specifically) on the oral microbiome of 59 patients. Scientists then observed that two species of bacteria, Fusobacterium nucleatum And Streptococcus anginosuswere present in large quantities in the oral microbiome of participants after three months of daily use of the alcohol-based mouthwash.
However, these two pathogens have already been correlated with gum disease and esophageal and colorectal cancers in previous studies.
Another discovery: other bacteria, called Actinobacteria, were less present among the volunteers. However, these microorganisms play a crucial role in the regulation of blood pressure.
Stay vigilant when choosing your product
Should we do without rinsing? Not necessarily, but it’s about being vigilant. Contacted on the subject, Dr. Christophe Lequart, dentist and national spokesperson for theUFSBD (French Union for Oral Health) first points out a quantity of bias in this study which does not allow us to firmly conclude that there is danger.
“This study says it does not take into account many factors that can also play a role in this reaction; the smoking status or not of the volunteers, their alcohol consumption, their diet or their oral and dental habits. In this case, we don’t even know if there is real brushing”. Further investigation is therefore to be awaited.
However, the study agrees with what dentists are now saying: “In any case, it is better to limit mouthwashes that contain alcohol. This is already what we advise pregnant women, this is undoubtedly what we should take away from this study.”
A reservation which joins that of the authors themselves on the use of alcohol-based mouthwashes.
“The public can use them daily to combat bad breath or prevent periodontitis, but they should be aware of the potential implications. Ideally, long-term use should be guided by healthcare professionals.”.
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