Use of mouthwashes in patients with oral and oropharynx cancer

Authors

  • José Narciso Rosa Assunção Júnior Discipline of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Metropolitan University of Santos
  • Victor Perez Teixeira Discipline of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Metropolitan University of Santos, Santos
  • Celso Augusto Lemos Junior Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2357-8041.clrd.2015.102956

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the use of mouthwashes in patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer. Materials and
methods:
Fifty-three patients were interviewed through a specific questionnaire at two reference centers for diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The Case Group consisted of 33 patients with final diagnosis of epidermoid carcinoma of the mouth and oropharynx. The Control Group consisted of 20 patients attended to by services not connected with oncology. Results: In the Case Group, 81.8% did not make use of dental floss, showing statistically significant difference from the Control Group (p=0.036). As for toothbrushing, we noticed a contrary behavior in which the Cases brushed more times per day than the Controls. The Control Group made less use of mouthwashes when compared to the Case Group, which used it more times per day (p=0.028). Patients in the Case Group smoked more than those in the Control Group, with this difference being significant (p=0.004). The same behavior was observed for alcohol consumption – consumption in milliliters per day during the year (p=0.031). Relevance: Various risk factors have been associated with cancers of the oral cavity, among them the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The mechanism by which alcoholic beverages cause oral cancer is unknown, but probably involves topical exposure. Conclusion: From this study, we concluded that even with the small casuistic, by means of a stratified analysis, the use of mouthwashes was four times higher in alcohol consumers; however, no increase of risk in smokers, abstainers from alcohol and non-smokers was observed.

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Author Biographies

  • José Narciso Rosa Assunção Júnior, Discipline of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Metropolitan University of Santos
    Discipline of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Metropolitan University of Santos
  • Victor Perez Teixeira, Discipline of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Metropolitan University of Santos, Santos
    Discipline of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, Metropolitan University of Santos
  • Celso Augusto Lemos Junior, Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo

    Department of Stomatology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo

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Published

2015-12-26

Issue

Section

Original Research