Recent study by Punjab University Dental College researchers has claimed that mouthwash could kill 99.9% of SARS CoV2 virus within 30 seconds of being exposed to it in a laboratory.
About the Research
Though in pre-print server and yet to be peer-reviewed, the study, titled “Chlorhexidine: An effective anti-Covid mouth rinse” opens an readily available remedy to shield oneself once exposed to the virus.
The study has been carried out in collaboration with the Institute of Microbial Technology (CSIR) – Structural Biology Laboratory and supported by Dr Reddy Laboratories and the Design Innovation Centre of the PU.
The objective of the study is mentioned to provide 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. Chlorhexidine gluconate is a germicidal mouthwash that reduces bacteria in the mouth.
Study Findings
The research has found Chlorhexidine and Povidone-iodine to be effective against SARS CoV2. These two are most routinely used mouth rinses.
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.
Promising findings for Dental Care
Covid-19 pandemic has led to unforeseen and uncertain professional situation for Dentists especially being them in close proximity with the patients during dental care. The high generation of aerosols and high titers of SARS-CoV2 in saliva suggested the oral cavity as a potential reservoir of Covid-19 transmission.
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 30 seconds after being exposed in a laboratory. We had used only Chlorhexidine in our present study. However, it is to be seen whether a commercial mouth wash will prove to be as effective as it was found in the study because of the other ingredients found in a mouth wash. These results need to be corroborated in a clinical study to have a correct interpretation of results.”
Source: The Tribune
Image Credits: Google Images
