The discovery of a mouthwash able to reduce the viral load in saliva by 99.9% opens up interesting prospects in the fight against the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
As we all know by now, saliva is the main vehicle for transmitting the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which infects people through droplets, contaminated surfaces or particles suspended in the air. Fully understanding the role of mouthwashes in reducing the viral load in saliva is therefore particularly important for containing the epidemic, both in dental clinics and in people’s homes.
This is where the preliminary tests carried out on a mouthwash formulated with cetylpyridinium chloride (0.07%) come in. The antiviral properties of CPC are well known, so much so that the substance was included in the Italian Ministry of Health’s preliminary protocol for dental treatment during the COVID-19 emergency.
The preliminary tests, carried out in independent laboratories in the USA, confirmed that a mouthwash formulated with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) can reduce the viral load of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, by 99.9% after just 30 seconds of contact and for up to 6 hours.
Although this is not a cure or a proven way of preventing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the preliminary results are very promising and open up interesting avenues for further research aimed at helping people improve their health and wellbeing. With this in mind, a group of Italian experts coordinated by ANDI (the National Association of Italian Dentists) has been set up to look more closely at the results.
It is important to stress that CPC mouthwashes do not replace face masks, but they can genuinely help to counter the spread of the virus by working alongside them. A CPC mouthwash is, in effect, like hand sanitiser for the mouth: an important element of protection at home and in dental clinics, for both the public and oral health professionals, confirming once again how important oral hygiene is for the health and wellbeing of the whole body.
Sources: A. Green, G. Roberts, T. Tobery, C. Vincent, M. Barili, C. Jones, In vitro assessment of the virucidal activity of four mouthwashes containing Cetylpyridinium Chloride, ethanol, zinc and a mix of enzyme and proteins against a human coronavirus
Photo: Vinicius “amnx” Amano on Unsplash
