STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- Research shows many dental mouthwashes destroy the lipid layer of coronaviruses and reduce the replication of the virus in the throat and salivary glands, making mouthwash a potentially useful prophylactic against COVID-19
- Mouthwashes that include ethanol, chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, hydrogen peroxide or povidone-iodine are especially effective and may even work against any new coronavirus strains that emerge
- Certain mouthwashes, particularly povidone-iodine containing ones, have been shown to minimize the risk of viral infections and upper respiratory tract infections
- While mouthwash may lower your risk of COVID-19 infection, their “scorched earth” impact can also create an imbalance in your oral microbiome. An alternative is to use oil pulling with coconut oil or MCT oil
- Nebulized hydrogen peroxide may also help prevent and treat early signs of COVID-19 and other viral infections