Dental experts yesterday confirmed a recent report linking chemicals in antiseptic mouthwash to oral cancer, prompting dentists to advise against using the product, especially people with open wounds or sores in the mouth.
The current issue of the Dental Journal of Australia said that mouthwash containing alcohol has been proven to increase the risks of oral cancer.
“Alcohol is [also] a risk factor in oral cancer,” said Hahn Liang-jiunn (韓良俊), oral and maxillofacial surgeon at National Taiwan University Hospital and chairperson of the Department of Health’s Committee on Dental Medicine.
Hahn said he had been advising his patients against using mouthwash containing alcohol for many years because harmful chemicals in alcohol accumulate in oral cavities when it comes in contact with the lining of the mouth, increasing the chances of developing oral cancer.
Huang Yi-haw (黃怡豪), a dentist at the Tri-Service General Hospital, strongly advised people with open wounds or sores in the mouth against using mouthwash.
“Long-term use of mouthwash is no better than using regular water,” he said. “Especially if the mouthwash contains alcohol, it will irritate wounds. If patients have wounds or sores ... we would advise against using it.”
Huang said thoroughly cleaning one’s teeth was more effective than using mouthwash. Proper use of floss and a toothbrush, which mouthwash and toothpaste cannot replace, is sufficient, he said.
Restaurants in New Taipei City, Hsinchu City and Hsinchu County are to be included in the Michelin Guide’s review for the first time this year, alongside existing entries from Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, the France-based culinary publication said yesterday. This year’s edition of the Michelin Guide Taiwan is to be unveiled on Aug. 19 in Taipei. In addition to the coveted star ratings, Michelin Taiwan would announce its “Bib Gourmand” selections — a distinction awarded to establishments offering high-quality food at moderate prices — on Aug. 12. This year’s Bib Gourmand list would also feature restaurants in New Taipei City, Hsinchu
Organizing one national referendum and 26 recall elections targeting Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators could cost NT$1.62 billion (US$55.38 million), the Central Election Commission said yesterday. The cost of each recall vote ranges from NT$16 million to NT$20 million, while that of a national referendum is NT$1.1 billion, the commission said. Based on the higher estimate of NT$20 million per recall vote, if all 26 confirmed recall votes against KMT legislators are taken into consideration, along with the national referendum on restarting the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, the total could be as much as NT$1.62 billion, it said. The commission previously announced
A firefighter yesterday died after falling into New Taipei City's Xindian River when a rescue dinghy capsized during a search mission for a man who was later found dead. The New Taipei City Fire Department said that it received a report at 4:12pm that a 50-year-old man, surnamed Chen (陳), had fallen into the river. A 32-year-old firefighter, surnamed Wu (吳), was among the rescuers deployed to look for Chen, the fire department said, adding that he and five other rescue personnel were in the dinghy when it capsized. Wu had no vital signs after being pulled from the water to the
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday welcomed NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s remarks that the organization’s cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners must be deepened to deter potential threats from China and Russia. Rutte on Wednesday in Berlin met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ahead of a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of Germany’s accession to NATO. He told a post-meeting news conference that China is rapidly building up its armed forces, and the number of vessels in its navy outnumbers those of the US Navy. “They will have another 100 ships sailing by 2030. They now have 1,000 nuclear warheads,” Rutte said, adding that such