A new research has suggested that mouthwash is capable of
providing some extent of protection against COVID-19 by killing the novel
coronavirus before it can infect human cells.
The study, which was published on Thursday in the journal
Function, has provoked calls by scientists for urgent research into whether
normal mouthwash, readily available in stores, could be effective in reducing
the virus transmission in the early stages of infection.
The calls were after a team of researchers from Cardiff
University assessed the importance of the throat and saliva glands in the
replication and transmission of the novel coronavirus, making reference to
their feeding patterns in the early stages the disease.
The study authors stated that their findings demonstrated
that mouthwash has the potential to destroy the outermost layer of the virus,
preventing it from replicating in the mouth and throat before the infection
fully kicks in.
A group of scientists has called for urgent research into whether readily-available mouthwash could be effective in reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission.https://t.co/4OQRqco7cf pic.twitter.com/1CyDA9d90U— Cardiff University (@cardiffuni) May 14, 2020
They, however, noted that further research into mouthwash
chemicals could be beneficial.
“What we don’t know yet is whether existing mouthwashes are
active against the lipid membrane of SARS-CoV-2. Our review of the
literature suggests that research is needed as a matter of urgency to determine
its potential for use against this new virus,” said Valerie O’Donnell, the
lead researcher.
Why do these scientists think mouthwash can be effective?
Backed by virologists and lipid specialists from Cardiff
University’s School of Medicine alongside other healthcare experts from the
universities of Nottingham, Colorado, Ottawa, Barcelona, and Cambridge’s
Babraham Institute, the study questioned current convictions about mouthwash.
On the basis that coronaviruses classify as “enveloped
viruses”, ones that are covered by a layer of fat vulnerable to certain
chemicals, the scientists claimed that mouthwash could protect against COVID-19
by killing the virus before it infects human cells through lipid membrane
disruption.
According to the researchers, the ingredients of dental
mouthwash, including chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, hydrogen
peroxide, and povidone-iodine, all have the potential to prevent infection by
tackling the one thing that helps these viruses bind to and enter cells.
“Safe use of mouthwash – as in gargling – has so far not
been considered by public health bodies in the UK. In test-tube experiments and
limited clinical studies, some mouthwashes contain enough of known virucidal
ingredients to effectively target lipids in similar enveloped viruses,” they
noted.
Mouthwashes and COVID-19: What does the WHO think?
As plausible as this new-found idea seems ahead of further
scientific evaluation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had earlier debunked claims that had attributed preventive
benefits to the use of mouthwash.
The premier health agency also said that there has been no
empirical evidence to back these claims so far.
“There’s no evidence that mouthwash will protect you from
infection with the new coronavirus.
Some brands of mouthwash eliminate certain
microbes for a few minutes in the saliva. However, this does not mean they
protect you from 2019-nCoV infection,” WHO had stated in February.
“To date, there is no specific medicine recommended to
prevent or treat the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV). However, those infected with
the virus should receive appropriate care to relieve and treat symptoms, and
those with severe illness should receive optimized supportive care.”
Protecting yourself from COVID-19?
The WHO had listed the symptoms of COVID-19 to include
fever, tiredness, and dry cough but some others have reported aches, nasal
congestion, runny nose, sore throat, and diarrhoea. Symptoms might begin
gradually, yet, other infected individuals might become asymptomatic.
It is estimated that about 80 percent of people who suffer
the deadly virus recover from the disease without needing special treatment. It
is also understood that one out of every six people who get infected with
COVID-19 becomes seriously ill with breathing difficulty that requires assistive
care.
Following that there is no vaccine or cure for COVID-19 just
yet, health experts have emphasised that the best way to prevent the illness is
to avoid getting exposed to infected patients, maintain physical distancing,
wash and sanitise hands regularly, and seek medical attention if need be.
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