[BBC] Mouthwash can kill coronavirus within 30 seconds of being exposed to it in a lab, a scientific study indicates.Scientists at Cardiff University found there were "promising signs" that over-the-counter mouthwashes may help to destroy the virus.
The report comes ahead of a clinical trial on Covid-19 on patients at the University Hospital of Wales.
Dr Nick Claydon said the study could lead to mouthwash becoming an important part of people's routines.
While the research suggests use of mouthwash may help kill the virus in saliva, there is not evidence it could be used as a treatment for coronavirus, as it will not reach the the respiratory tract or the lungs.
Dr Claydon, a specialist periodontologist, said: "If these positive results are reflected in Cardiff University's clinical trial, CPC-based mouthwashes... could become an important addition to people's routine, together with hand washing, physical distancing and wearing masks, both now and in the future."