A laboratory tests have found, mouthwash can kill off coronavirus within 30 seconds and could become an essential part of people’s daily routine.
The initial results of a non-peer-reviewed of Cardiff University’s study showed “promising signs” of mouthwashes containing at least 0.07 per cent cetypyridinium chloride (CPC) being capable of fighting the virus.
The tests were carried out by the scientists at the university’s laboratory by imitating the conditions of a person’s naso/oropharynx passage and using mouthwash brands including Dentyl.
Their report which is titled as “The Virucidal Efficacy of Oral Rinse Components Against SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro” – is yet to be examined but it supports another study that was published last week which found CPC-based mouthwashes are effective in reducing Covid’s viral load.
At the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff a clinical trial will be conducted next to examine how effective over-the-counter mouthwash is and how much it can reduce the levels of Covid-19 in the saliva of coronavirus patients.
In early 2021 the results are expected to be published. Dentyl is the only UK mouthwash brand to have taken part in the 12-week clinical trial, led by Professor David Thomas from Cardiff University.
Dr. Thomas told the PA news agency: “Although this in-vitro study is very encouraging and is a positive step, more clinical research is now clearly needed.
“We need to understand if the effect of over-the-counter mouthwashes on the Covid-19 virus achieved in the laboratory can be reproduced in patients, and we look forward to completing our clinical trial in early 2021.”
Dr. Nick Claydon, a specialist periodontologist, said he believed the research was “very valuable”.
He added: “If these positive results are reflected in Cardiff University’s clinical trial, CPC-based mouthwashes such as Dentyl used in the in-vitro study could become an important addition to people’s routine, together with hand washing, physical distancing and wearing masks, both now and in the future.”
