During lunch yesterday, Taryn and I were discussing what attracts us to the opposite sex. Needless to say, bad breath didn't feature on our most wanted list! Oral hygeine is incredibly important and a trip to the dentist won't be complete without a lecture on it. But before you get too carried away...

A new study reveals that a seemingly benign household product (which you probably have in your home right now) could tip oral cancer into motion.

Swishing toxins that are absorbed by the gums

Researchers from two Australian dental schools reviewed a variety of research projects that investigated the effects of alcohol on oral health. One of those sources included more than 3,200 subjects in a trial that indicated that daily mouthwash use might be a significant risk factor for cancer in the head and neck region.

The Australian study concluded: "There is now sufficient evidence to accept the proposition that mouthwashes containing alcohol could contribute to the increased risk of the development of oral cancer."

The study notes that several popular mouthwash brands actually have higher alcohol content than beer or wine. The other obvious difference is that beverages are swallowed, but mouthwash is swished throughout the mouth. Lead researcher, Prof. Michael McCullough told The Daily Telegraph that when alcohol permeates the oral cavity, a toxic metabolite called acetaldehyde can accumulate.

Acetaldehyde is the component of alcohol that makes you feel ill after a heavy night out and is in fact, the "hangover" element. And far worse, the Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that acetaldehyde is a "probable human carcinogen."

Prof. McCullough's review shows that cigarette smokers who use an alcohol mouthwash daily may have as much as nine times greater risk of oral cancer compared to those who don't use mouthwash. Alcohol drinkers who use alcohol mouthwash daily may also be at a considerably greater risk.

Your inexpensive alternative

However, mouthwash should still be used on a regular basis to neutralise bacteria that develops along the gum line and contributes to periodontitis (gum disease). If allowed to build up, the bacteria can accumulate in the throat and if the immune system is not functioning at optimum levels, these bacteria may trigger respiratory problems such as pneumonia. So it would be best to find a mouthwash that contains no alcohol.

Otherwise, alternative medicine pioneer, William Campbell Douglass II, M.D., recommends using a hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) solution as a mouthwash twice daily.

A mouthwash of H2O2 solution is easy to make. Mix 30 ml of 35 percent food-grade hydrogen peroxide with 1 1/4 cup of water. For flavouring, a few drops of liquid chlorophyll can be added.

But a word of caution: Do not allow undiluted hydrogen peroxide to come into contact with your skin while mixing the solution.