Valutazione del rischio della presenza di alcol nei collutori

Objectives

To describe the risks for oral mucosa induced by ethylic alcohol in mouthwashes with a particular attention to middle- and long-term risk of cancer development

Materials and methods

The available literature was reviewed beginning from the early studies in the ‘70ies up to most recent publications

Results

The issue of the risks induced by alcohol in mouthwashes is still a matter of debate; However, many authors in recent years have become more and more cautious, sometime advising not to use products containing alcohol

Conclusions

Ethylic alcohol has always been one of the most frequently employed component in drug and mouthwash production; according to some authors, there are now some evidence against the long term use of mouthwashes containing alcohol.