Mouthwash may inactivate coronavirus
Certain oral antiseptics and mouthwashes may have the ability to inactivate human coronaviruses.
A Penn State University study found that some of these products might be useful for reducing the viral load, or amount of virus, in the mouth after infection and may help to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
The researchers tested several oral rinses for their ability to inactivate human coronaviruses, including a baby shampoo, a neti pot, peroxide sore-mouth cleansers and mouthwashes.
The researchers found that several of the nasal and oral rinses had a strong ability to neutralize human coronavirus, which suggests that these products may have the potential to reduce the amount of virus spread by people who are COVID-19 positive.
Professor Craig Meyers said it was important to develop methods to reduce transmission while the world waits for a vaccine to be found.
“The products we tested are readily available and often already part of people’s daily routines,” Prof. Meyers said.
The one per cent baby shampoo solution, which is often used by head and neck doctors to rinse the sinuses, inactivated greater than 99.9 per cent of human coronavirus after a two-minute contact time.
Several of the mouthwash and gargle products were also effective at inactivating the infectious virus. Many inactivated greater than 99.9 per cent of virus after only 30 seconds of contact time and some inactivated 99.99 per cent of the virus after 30 seconds.
“Certain professions including dentists and other health care workers are at a constant risk of exposure,” Prof Meyers said. “Clinical trials are needed to determine if these products can reduce the amount of virus COVID-positive patients or those with high-risk occupations may spread while talking, coughing or sneezing.
“Even if the use of these solutions could reduce transmission by 50 per cent, it would have a major impact.”
How often do you use mouthwash? Do you think this finding gives hope to people who share a house with someone who has COVID-19?
a typical usa study & about not having to be socially responsible by wearing a face mask! I've a friend who swears the odour of ginger is all you need!