Several studies around the globe have been conducted to test the efficacy of mouthwash as a way to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Some of these studies have been conducted by the American Physiological Society, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, and the Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center (TIDREC) at the University of Malaya in Malaysia.

In Malaysia, TIDREC confirmed the effectiveness of BETADINE Gargle and Mouthwash against SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. The study included testing BETADINE in two concentrations, undiluted and at a 1:2 dilution. In both cases, the testing demonstrated a strong in-vitro virucidal activity, with the tested products killing 99.99% of the virus in 15 seconds.

In Germany, at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, researchers tested 8 different mouthwashes with different ingredients. In their study, researchers mixed each mouthwash with virus particles and an interfering substance (to mimic saliva) and was shaken for 30 seconds to simulate gargling. All the tested preparations reduced the initial virus concentration (titer). 3 of the mouthwashes tested eliminated all trace of the virus.

The American Physiological Society published a study in a new journal, called Function, that looked at the viral lipid membrane disruption by widely available dental mouthwash components. The researchers say that the virus is highly sensitive to agents that disrupt lipid bio-membranes. They also write that the lipid envelope does not vary when a virus mutates, so if the strategy of using mouthwash to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is found to be effective, it should still work against the new strains that may emerge.

It is important to remember that all of the results from these various studies show that mouthwash can be used in the short-term to help prevent the spread of the virus, but other preventative measures are still necessary. The use of PPE and washing your hands regularly are still considered to be the most effective way to prevent the spread of the virus. All the researchers are doing more work to determine if mouthwash can have any long-term applications regarding the SARS-CoV-2 virus.