Mouthwash study launched

Scientists in Wales will launch a study this week into whether mouthwash can be used to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Covid-19 patients at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff will take par t in new research to find out if it has the potential to reduce the levels of the virus in saliva.

SARS-COV-2 is an enveloped virus with an outer fatty( lipid) membrane, and previous studies are said to show that agents usually found in mouth wash–such as low amounts of ethanol, povidone-iodine and cetylpyridinium – could disrupt the membranes of other lipid viruses.

Dentyl is the only UK mouthwash brand to take part in the 12- week study titled :“The measurement of mouthwash anti-viral activity against Covid-19”.

The completed research will be peer reviewed before it is published in around six months’ time.