Study reveals mouthwash can kill coronavirus
A study in the UK has revealed that mouthwash can kill the virus that COVID-19 within 30 seconds of exposure in a laboratory.
According to the New York Post, the study, conducted at Cardiff University, indicated that over-the -counter mouthwashes containing at least 0.07 per cent cetypridinium chloride (CPC) showed signs of destroying the virus when exposed in lab testing.
The scientists conducting the research are said to have used common mouthwash brands like Dentyl and Listerine, where they imitated the conditions of a person’s oral and nasal passages.
However, the publication iterates that even though mouthwash might help kill the virus in saliva, it does not qualify as a treatment method.
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Dr. Nick Claydon, a specialist periodontologist, while talking to the BBC , said that incorporating mouthwashes into people’s daily routine should be prioritised.
“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,” he opined.
Dr. Richard Stanto, an author, echoed the sentiments by saying that, “This study adds to the emerging literature that several commonly available mouthwashes designed to fight gum disease can also inactivate COVID-19 when tested in the laboratory under conditions that are designed to mimic the oral/nasal cavity in a test tube.”
A clinical trial is set to continue on the same.
Featured image courtesy of Science Focus
