London: The use of commercially available mouthwashes can “inactivate” Sars-Cov-2 viruses, thereby helping to reduce the viral load and possibly the risk of coronavirus transmission over a short term, according to a new study.
The study by a team of researchers at Germany’s Ruhr-University Bochum was published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
“Gargling with mouthwash cannot inhibit the production of viruses in the cells, but could reduce the viral load in the short term where the greatest potential for infection comes from, namely in the oral cavity and throat,” said researcher Toni Meister.
For the findings, the researchers tested eight types of mouthwashes with different ingredients, IANS reported.
They then mixed the samples with virus particles and an interfering substance, which was intended to recreate the effect of saliva in the mouth.
The researchers then used Vero E6 cells, which are particularly receptive to Sars-Cov-2, to determine the virus titer (viral load).
All of the tested preparations reduced the initial virus titer, the study said.
The findings further showed that three mouthwashes reduced it to such an extent that no virus could be detected after an exposure time of 30 seconds.
The researchers, however, maintained that mouthwashes are not suitable for treating COVID-19. “Whether this effect is confirmed in clinical practice and how long it lasts must be investigated in further studies,” the study added.
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