Research proves that commercial mouthwash could protect against COVID-19.
The story appeared first in the journal Function, published by Oxford University Press, and then was reported in an article (archived here) on The Daily Mail site, published on May 14, 2020, under the title: "Mouthwash could protect against COVID-19 by destroying the outer layer of fat the virus uses to bind to human cells, scientists suggest." It opened:, "Mouthwash has the potential to protect against COVID-19 infection by killing the coronavirus before it can infect human cells, according to a new report.Coronaviruses belong to the class of enveloped viruses, meaning they are covered by a fatty layer that is vulnerable to certain chemicals.A team of international researchers say mouthwash could destroy the outermost layer or envelope of the virus, preventing its replication in the mouth and throat.The scientists say there is an urgent need to test the effectiveness of mouthwash in trials, although there is currently no clinical evidence that it would be successful.", , The scientists said previous research on "enveloped" viruses -- including coronaviruses -- backs their suspicion that mouthwash could help stop the spread of COVID-19. They reviewed widely available mouthwash components, including ethanol, chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium, hydrogen peroxide and povidone-iodine, to see if they could destroy the lipid "envelope" of the coronavirus, and stop it from replicating. They also researched whether existing mouthwash formulations would do the same thing. Their conclusion: Several mouthwashes "deserve clinical evaluation," but there "many questions":, Many questions need to be addressed in relation to whether oral hygiene could represent a viable approach to dampen transmission of SARS-CoV-2, and research is required to address this., While there should be no harm in regular gargling, you should not depend on it to protect you from COVID-19. The World Health Organization says there is no evidence that using mouthwash will protect anyone from spreading the coronavirus., "The bottom line -- as even the scientists who are pushing for research admit -- theres no proof that mouthwash will work to kill the coronavirus, and more study is needed.", , , See who is sharing it (it might even be your friends...) and leave the link in the comments.:, Lead Stories is working with the CoronaVirusFacts/DatosCoronaVirus Alliance, a coalition of more than 100 fact-checkers who are fighting misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about the alliance here., Mary Acosta, a staff writer and fact-checker for Lead Stories, is a former copy editor at CNN International., She was based at the network’s headquarters in Atlanta. Prior to working at CNNI she was a writer, writer-producer, and copy editor at CNN. She was part of teams that won Emmy Awards for coverage of Hurricane Katrina and the 9/11 terror attacks., Lead Stories is a fact checking website that is always looking for the latest false, deceptive or\n      inaccurate stories (or media) making the rounds on the internet.\n      \n      Spotted something? Let us know!., Lead Stories is a fact checking website that is always looking for the latest false, deceptive or\n        inaccurate stories (or media) making the rounds on the internet.\n        \n        Spotted something? Let us know!.
Fact Check: No Research Proves Mouthwash Could Protect Against COVID-19, But Scientists Say It Should Be Studied | Lead Stories