The research showed that over-the-counter mouthwash can reduce coronavirus levels in a patient’s saliva. Called The Virucidal Efficacy of Oral Rinse Components Against SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro, the report is still to be reviewed by the community of peer scientists.
Social media users have mocked the irony and voiced their disbelief following the announcement of the research results.
Mouthwashes containing at least 0.07% cetypyridinium chloride (CPC) showed “promising signs” of being able to combat the virus, according to the Cardiff University study.
“Whilst these mouthwashes very effectively eradicate the virus in the laboratory, we’d to see if they work in patients and this is the point of our ongoing clinical study. It is important to point out the study won’t give us any direct evidence on viral transmission between patients, that would require a different type of study on a much larger scale. The ongoing clinical study will, however, show us how long any effects last, following a single administration of the mouthwash in patients with Covid-19,” leader of the study, Professor David Thomas from Cardiff University, said.
Researches who conducted the test in the lab setting used mouthwash brands such as Dentyl. Makers of Dentyl, Venture Life Group (VLG), provided information to the study but did not fund it. VLG is said to fund the next stage of research.