New research by scientists at Cardiff University says some brands of mouthwash can destroy coronavirus in half a minute in laboratory settings.
Over-the-counter mouthwashes that contain at least 0.07% cetylpyridinium chloride showed "promising results" in getting rid of the virus.
The scientists say that while some types of mouthwash may help destroy coronavirus in human saliva it hasn't proven to be an effective treatment for the disease - since it can't get to the lungs or respiratory tract.
According to specialist periodontologist Dr. Nick Claydon, if these results are reflected in Cardiff University's clinical tests, "cetylpyridinium chloride-based mouthwashes...could become an important addition to people's routine together with hand-washing, physical distancing and wearing masks," BBC News quoted Claydon as saying.
The clinical research will, however, "show us how long any effects will last after a single administration of the mouthwash in patients with COVID," Cardiff University professor David Thomas said, according to the BBC report.
The Cardiff report hasn't been peer reviewed and the next process is to find out if mouthwashes are as effective in patients as they are in labs. Findings from a clinical test at the University Hospital of Wales are expected in 2021.
This is not the first time scientists at Cardiff University have examined mouthwashes as a potential solution against coronavirus. A group of scientists from the university's School of Medicine - along with the universities of Barcelona, Colorado, Nottingham, Ottawa and the Cambridge Babraham Institute - theorized oral antiseptics might play a role in the fight against the pandemic.
The World Health Organization said in February there was no solid proof that mouthwashes would protect against infection. Some types of mouthwash can kill certain microbes for a few minutes in the mouth's saliva. However, "this doesn't mean they protect you from COVID infection," the World Health Organization said.
