Mouthwash effective in killing coronavirus

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 12

Researchers of Panjab University Dental College have claimed that mouthwash could kill 99.9% of SARS CoV2 virus within 30 seconds of being exposed to it in a laboratory.

The study, titled “Chlorhexidine: An effective anti-Covid mouth rinse”, is in the pre-print server and yet to be peer-reviewed. The study has been carried out in collaboration with the Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR) – Structural Biology Laboratory. It is supported by Dr Reddy Laboratories and the Design Innovation Centre of the PU.

The study has been aimed at providing an insight into the effectiveness of the current ‘gold standard’ Chlorhexidine and also Povidone-iodine as an effective mouth rinse, through an in-vitro analysis.

It may be mentioned that Chlorhexidine gluconate is a germicidal mouthwash that reduces bacteria in the mouth.

The study findings have revealed that the most routinely used mouth rinses, Chlorhexidine and also Povidone-iodine, have proven to be effective against SARS CoV2.

According to the study, Chlorhexidine digluconate mouth rinses in 0.2% concentration inactivated more than 99.9% of SARS CoV2 virus, in a minimal contact time of 30 seconds.

Dentists across the globe are witnessing a completely unforeseen and uncertain professional situation during these times of the Covid-19 pandemic. Proximity to the patient during dental care, high generation of aerosols and high titers of SARS-CoV2 in saliva suggested the oral cavity as a potential reservoir of Covid-19 transmission.

Concern about the use of proper antiseptics and disinfectants is related to the overall health and safety of dental patients, practising clinicians and oral health care team. The use of mouthwashes is recommended as a standard of care to reduce oral microbial loads within the dental clinic and for patient home care.

Ashish Jain from Dr HSJ Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Panjab University, who has authored the study, said: “We found out that a mouth rinse with a required concentration of Chlorhexidine killed coronavirus within

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