Mouthwash can help to kill coronavirus within 30 seconds of exposure, a study found.
Cardiff University researchers found that certain mouthwashes containing at least 0.07 per cent cetypyridinium chloride (CPC) showed “promising signs” of attacking the virus.
Household mouthwashes containing CPC include Dentyl, Colgate Total Pro-Shield, Colgate Plax, Sensodyne Pronamel Daily Mouthwash and Oral-B Pro-Expert Multi Protection.
The findings support a US study published last month that found mouthwashes and antiseptics could help reduce the amount of virus in the mouth after infection.
In the Cardiff study, scientists carried out tests in a laboratory that mirrored the conditions of a person’s naso/oropharynx passage.
Dentyl provided information for the study but did not fund it.
The results are only preliminary and have not been peer-reviewed.
The study came ahead of a larger clinical trial at University Hospital in Wales that will further investigate the Covid-killing capabilities of mouthwash.
In the separate study, researchers found a range of personal care products could help to neutralise the virus.
Among the products tested in the Pennsylvania State College study were baby shampoo, peroxide cleansers and mouthwash.
To measure how much virus was inactivated, the researchers placed the diluted solutions in contact with cultured human cells.
They counted how many cells remained alive after a few days of exposure to the viral solution and used that number to calculate the amount of coronavirus that was killed because of the mouthwash.
Prof Craig Meyers, who led the study, said the results were promising.
He said: "While we wait for a vaccine to be developed, methods to reduce transmission are needed.
"The products we tested are readily available and often already part of people's daily routines."
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