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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCoronavirus: Scientists want to investigate if mouthwash kills the infection
The virus is surrounded by a fatty membrane. The scientists have argued the membranes of similar pathogens were disrupted when exposed to ingredients commonly found in mouthwashes, like ethanol, povidone-iodine and cetylpyridinium.
Gargling with mouthwash could inactivate the coronavirus in the throat, helping to prevent it spreading via coughs and sneezes, they added.
Although it is unclear whether this would be the case, the team argued there has been no discussion on the potential role of mouthwash in combatting the outbreak.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/coronavirus-covid19-mouthwash-kill-infection-110024444.html
If this hypothesis gains any traction, watch for a run on mouthwash...
BusyBeingBest
(8,049 posts)That's something I've wondered, but I don't use mouthwash usually myself, though my husband does--he and I get sick with colds/throat viruses at roughly the same frequency, once or twice every couple years.
Newest Reality
(12,712 posts)In alternate reality land, anything is possible. Just mentioning it could start a run on gargle juice. They don't need none of that thar traction.
cbdo2007
(9,213 posts)MontanaMama
(23,242 posts)Ive always wished I could give that a go. Our local stores do not offer the coupons that are available in other parts of the country. I think it would a fun challenge. Id buy a bunch if stuff and donate it to our food bank and homeless shelter.
cbdo2007
(9,213 posts)With CVS they give those care bucks, so you buy stuff and they give you care bucks and you just keep reusing them to buy stuff on sale or with coupons to get tons of stuff free.
We do give tons of it to charities and to our friends and relatives but also end up with a bunch of random stuff like the 8 bottles of mouth wash we have under the sink. Those are always big sellers in the garage sale so I think that's why wife hung on to them.
CrispyQ
(36,231 posts)My dentist recommended it many, many years ago for a sore throat. Gargle, let it foam, then gargle with plain water to rinse the organic matter away. I swear, it works on sore throats. Especially if you catch it early.
Good luck finding peroxide, though.
PCIntern
(25,347 posts)The nascent oxygen release is poison to anaerobes.
I thought we were supposed to inject it while sitting under a bright light.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,280 posts)You get a dose of quinine along with the ethanol.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)comradebillyboy
(10,119 posts)when I visited India a few years back I switched to gin and tonic to fend off the malaria.
Hugin
(32,778 posts)I've taken to brushing my teeth after going out and twice a day otherwise.
This is nothing new for me, though. Ever since the link was made between diseases of the mouth and heart disease, I've been very vigilant about the whole process.
Mouthwash? Yeah, I use it too.
GoCubsGo
(32,061 posts)Because that's where a lot of the viruses we carry dwell. Unless one is a mouth-breather, mouthwashes, if they work, aren't going to do squat against what's in the rest of one's respiratory tract. Not to mention that most manufacturers are taking the alcohol out of their products.
meow2u3
(24,745 posts)Midnight Writer
(21,548 posts)Been doing it for years for an unrelated condition, but I wonder if the salt content would help protect against virus.
LastDemocratInSC
(3,625 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)As for what to use for mouthwash, why pansy around with anything that does NOT do "a tremendous number" on the tissues when swished-and-spit? Drain cleaner, perhaps, and I'm surprised he hasn't already suggested it.
Initech
(99,915 posts)greenjar_01
(6,477 posts)marybourg
(12,540 posts)RussBLib
(8,985 posts)dalton99a
(81,073 posts)Bradshaw3
(7,455 posts)Are mouthwashes purchased at streets at higher elevation more effective?
marybourg
(12,540 posts)Bradshaw3
(7,455 posts)Is that a term used in England, or here too?
Hugin
(32,778 posts)Goes back to when the 'high street' in a town was like 'main street'.
Bradshaw3
(7,455 posts)Learned something new today.
Hugin
(32,778 posts)Which makes sense since this is Cardiff in the article.
A couple of variants I've heard are 'state street' and 'royal street'.
Bradshaw3
(7,455 posts)Thanks.
RobinA
(9,878 posts)if it was some kind black market mouthwash procured from drug dealers. Super strong or something?
Bradshaw3
(7,455 posts)ananda
(28,783 posts)nt
abqtommy
(14,118 posts)any strength anywhere. I haven't been to a liquor store to look for a substitute but I was wondering
about the astringent cleaner I can buy in quantity and do use for skin cleansing and the occasional waterless bath. So get to it, scientists. Quit yapping and get to investigating and let us know. I can also buy mouthwash without any problem...
Green Line
(1,123 posts)It's $20, plus shipping. Shipping for me was $12.00 to Boston
abqtommy
(14,118 posts)family members) Fortunately, today WalMart has been visited by the hydrogen peroxide fairy so I was able to pick up some more. I need to check out a real liquor store first though...
ThoughtCriminal
(14,011 posts)And lots of parents forced their kids to gargle the nasty stuff every day based on the advertising.
Turned out it was useless and the FTC made them run corrective advertisements.
That does not mean that something might be helpful for COVID, but I sure would be skeptical without some clinical evidence and controlled studies.
SoCalNative
(4,613 posts)so if you make it a point to use alcohol free mouthwash, guess you're SOL
Wounded Bear
(58,440 posts)Texaswitchy
(2,962 posts)Helps
Crunchy Frog
(26,548 posts)for two months now with no possible exposures. She even had her "drinking Chlorox" moment with it (spoiler alert: it's not a good idea).
I don't think there's any harm in it, as long as people don't try to use it as a substitute for more proven methods of avoiding infection.