According to a new study led by the researchers of Penn State College of Medicine have suggested that a few mouthwashes and oral antiseptics exhibit potential in inactivating human coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2). Moreover, researchers indicated that some of these products might play a key role in lessening the amount of virus in the mouth after infection and further aid to slow the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.
In the study, researchers examined various oral and nasopharyngeal rinses to evaluate their ability to inactivate human coronaviruses with similar structure to SARS-CoV-2, in a laboratory setting. Peroxide sore-mouth cleansers, 1% solution of baby shampoo, a neti pot, and mouthwashes are some of the products that were evaluated for the study. Later, researchers observed that several nasal and oral rinses exhibited higher potential in neutralizing human coronavirus, indicating that these products might lower the transmission of virus by individuals with COVID-19.
Moreover, in order to measure the amount of virus was inactivated, researchers placed the diluted solutions in contact with cultured human cells for a few days. Researchers found that 1% baby shampoo solution, commonly used by head and neck doctors inactivated over 99.9% of human coronavirus after two-minute of contact time. They also reported that other mouthwash and oral rinse products were efficient in inactivating the infectious virus by inactivating over 99.9% of virus after only 30 seconds of contact time.
Meyers from Penn State Cancer Institute stated, “People who test positive for COVID-19 and return home to quarantine may possibly transmit the virus to those they live with. Clinical trials are needed to determine if these products can reduce the amount of virus COVID-positive patients or those with high-risk occupations may spread while talking, coughing or sneezing. Even if the use of these solutions could reduce transmission by 50%, it would have a major impact.”
