Daily US Times: A scientific study indicates that mouthwash can kill coronavirus within 30 seconds of being exposed to it in a lab.
Cardiff University scientists found there were “promising signs” that over-the-counter mouthwashes may help to destroy the virus.
It comes ahead of a clinical trial on Covid-19 on patients at the University Hospital of Wales.
Dr Nick Claydon, a specialist periodontologist, said the study could lead to mouthwash becoming an important part of people’s routines.
While the research suggests use of mouthwash may help kill the virus in saliva, there is not evidence that it could be used as a treatment for Covid-19, as it will not reach the respiratory tract or the lungs.
“If these positive results are reflected in Cardiff University’s clinical trial, CPC-based mouthwashes… could become an important addition to people’s routine, together with hand washing, physical distancing and wearing masks, both now and in the future,” Dr Claydon said.
The report states that mouthwashes containing at least 0.07 percent cetypyridinium chloride (CPC) showed “promising signs” of being able to eradicate the coronavirus when exposed to the virus in a lab.
While the university report is yet to be peer reviewed, it supports another recent study which found CPC-based mouthwashes are effective in reducing viral load.
Tead author on the study, Dr Richard Stanton said ”This study adds to the emerging literature that several commonly-available mouthwashes designed to fight gum disease can also inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (and other related coronaviruses) when tested in the laboratory under conditions that are designed to mimic the oral/nasal cavity in a test tube.”
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