Scientists at Cardiff University have uncovered “promising signs” that mouthwash may help kill COVID-19 -- the study has not been peer reviewed or yet been published in a journal.
The study, conducted at the University Hospital of Wales, shows that mouthwash can help wipe out the virus in saliva, but it does not show evidence of a treatment for the coronavirus as it does not reach the lungs or respiratory tracts.
All the scientists continue to recommend following guidelines of the CDC -- hand washing, wearing a face covering, maintaining social distancing, and staying at home if experiencing symptoms of the virus.
"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. Nick Claydon, a specialist periodontologist, told the BBC.
The report indicates that mouthwashes containing at least 0.07% cetypyridinium chloride (CPC) appeared to eradicate the virus in lab studies.
"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,” Dr. Richard Stanton, lead author on the study told the BBC.
"Whilst these mouthwashes very effectively eradicate the virus in the laboratory, we need to see if they work in patients and this is the point of our ongoing clinical study," Professor David Thomas, from the university said.
Dr. Thomas told the Independent that “although this in-vitro study is very encouraging and is a positive step, more clinical research is now clearly needed."