Can mouthwash kill COVID-19 virus in 30 seconds?

A recent study suggests that mouthwash can kill the dangerous COVID-19 virus in a matter of just 30 seconds of being exposed to it in a laboratory. The preliminary study results come ahead of a clinical trial, which will look at whether or not mouthwash bought over the counter could reduce levels of coronavirus in a person’s saliva. The Cardiff University research report - named The Virucidal Efficacy of Oral Rinse Components Against SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro - said that mouthwashes which contain at least 0.07 per cent of cetypyridinium chloride (CPC) showed “promising signs” of tackling the virus.

"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)," study lead author Richard Stanton was quoted as saying to the BBC. According to the research team, clinical trial will look at whether it helps to reduce levels of the virus in the saliva of Covid-19 patients at the hospital in Cardiff, with results expected early next year. Researcher David Thomas said the initial results were encouraging, but the clinical trial would not produce evidence of how to prevent transmission between patients. 

"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," he said. Another study published in the Journal of Medical Virology in October also revealed that certain oral antiseptics and mouthwashes might have the ability to inactivate human coronavirus. The 12 week long clinical trial - which is led by Professor David Thomas from Cardiff University and named ‘The measurement of mouthwash anti-viral activity against Covid-19’ - will again include Dently. This is the only UK mouthwash brand to take part in the trial. Dr Thomas explained that, although the “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.” The global tally of coronavirus cases stands at 56,016,137. While 38,926,873 have recovered, 1,342,715 have died so far. The US, the worst-hit country, has 11,688,474 cases, and 254,125 have died from the disease there. It is followed by India, which has 8,912,907 cases, Brazil (5,911,758), France (2,036,755), Russia (1,971,013).