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The viral envelope is a protective barrier that surrounds the virus. However, there is not enough evidence to support that mouthwash is an effective tool against COVID-19, and further research is needed. Some mouthwash is antiseptic and may kill microorganisms in the mouth. It may also help prevent tooth decay and bad breath, alongside brushing and flossing. People use mouthwash by swishing it in their mouth and gargling with it after brushing their teeth and then spitting it out. Mouthwash may kill COVID-19 in the mouth temporarily, but the virus will make more copies of itself rapidly. Therefore, it may only offer a temporary solution at best. This article discusses COVID-19, research about mouthwash and COVID-19, and COVID-19 prevention. For more advice on COVID-19 prevention and treatment, visit our coronavirus hub. What is COVID-19 Share on PinterestLaborer/Getty ImagesCOVID-19 is a highly infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people who contract COVID-19 experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment. However, some people become severely ill and require medical attention. Any person can contract COVID-19 and become seriously ill or die. The virus can transmit from the nose or mouth of a person with COVID-19 through small particles when they sneeze, cough, breathe, sing, or speak. Symptoms of COVID-19 include:coughdifficulty breathingshortness of breathfeverchillsheadachesbody or muscle achesfatigueloss of smell or tastecongestion or runny nosesore throatdiarrheanausea or vomiting According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been more than 550 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 6 million deaths globally. To help prevent the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that every person aged 6 months and older receive vaccinations. According to the CDC, more than 222 million people in the United States are fully vaccinated. What does research suggest about mouthwash and COVID-19 Dentists currently use antimicrobial mouthwashes to reduce the number of microorganisms in liquid particles that may escape a person’s mouth during procedures. These rinses contain antiseptic chemicals, which include:hydrogen peroxidechlorhexidine gluconatepovidone-iodinecetylpyridinium chloride Research suggests that using mouthwash may temporarily prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during dental procedures. However, a person can still exhale the virus from their lungs and nasal cavity. Emerging studies suggest that although they are not primary targets for infection, the salivary glands and throat are important sites of virus transmission and replication in the early stages of COVID-19. This may mean that using mouthwash could be a helpful tool for preventing the spread of the virus. However, at this stage, studies are too small and short term for researchers to make conclusive statements, and further research is necessary. A 2020 study suggested that mouthwashes containing certain ingredients may break down or destroy the SARS-CoV-2 viral lipid envelope, which acts as protection for the virus. The authors stated that published research supports the theory that oral rinsing helps break down viral envelopes in other viruses, including coronaviruses, and should be researched further in relation to COVID-19. Another 2020 study found that after swishing and gargling a mouthwash formulation for 60 seconds, 16 out of 33 study participants became Neisseria gonorrhea culture-negative within 5 minutes, compared to 4 of 25 participants who gargled saline. However, the study was not large enough to provide conclusive evidence and indicated a need for further research. The authors of a 2021 study suggested that oral rinses containing 0.5% povidone-iodine may interrupt the attachment of SARS-CoV-2 to tissues in the nose, throat, and mouth, and lower viral particles in the saliva. Research limitations Although research is promising, recent studies have limitations and are insufficient to prove that mouthwash can act as a preventive measure against COVID-19. Available, published studies are small, and there are no large-scale clinical studies that provide evidence of mouthwash as a successful measure against COVID-19. Researchers that suggested mouthwash as a promising measure generally also suggested that further research is needed, and did not offer recommendations for the use of mouthwash as a COVID-19 prevention tool. While researchers have found evidence that certain mouthwash formulas could successfully destroy the virus, the results were only true for people who had only had the virus for a short while. While some studies found that mouthwash could create a hostile environment for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, research does not support that it can treat active infections or control the spread of the virus. Finally, although mouthwash may have an effect on the virus in the mouth and throat, COVID-19 also collects in nasal passages. Even if mouthwash could effectively kill the virus in the throat, it would remain in the nasal passages, which could pass the virus down to the throat. COVID-19 prevention According to the CDC, to prevent infection and the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, a person should consider:getting fully vaccinatedself-isolating if they are infectedwearing a mask in public spaceswashing their hands regularly with soapusing hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol when soap is unavailablestaying 6 feet away from other people in public spacescovering their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezingcleaning and disinfecting surfaces regularlygetting tested if they may have the virusavoiding crowds and poorly ventilated areastaking precautions when traveling The CDC recommends that people who are not fully vaccinated wear cloth face masks in indoor public settings. If case numbers are high in the area, it may be best to wear a mask outdoors, as well. This will help slow the spread of the virus from people who do not know that they have contracted it, including those who are asymptomatic. Note: It is critical that surgical masks and N95 respirators are reserved for healthcare workers Summary Research has shown that using certain formulations of mouthwash may help destroy the protective SARS-CoV-2 viral envelope and kill the virus in the throat and mouth. However, current studies have serious limitations. Publically available studies do not provide large-scale, clinical evidence to conclude the efficacy of mouthwash against COVID-19. Although mouthwash affects the virus in the mouth and throat, it does not affect the virus in other primary spots such as the nasal passages, which may reinfect the throat. Research does not show that mouthwash can treat active infections or prevent virus transmission. Therefore, people should continue adhering to current prevention measures, such as vaccination and regular handwashing. They should also continue to follow measures suggested by the CDC to help stop the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Last medically reviewed on July 15, 2022Flu / Cold / SARSInfectious Diseases / Bacteria / VirusesCOVID-19 15 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Basics of COVID-19. (2021).https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/about-covid-19/basics-covid-19.htmlChopra, A., et al. (2021). Can povidone iodine gargle/mouthrinse inactivate SARS-CoV-2 and decrease the risk of nosocomial and community transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic? An evidence-based update.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1882761621000065Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). (n.d.).https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1Covid data tracker. (2022).https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/covidview/index.htmlCovid data tracker. (2022).https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-total-admin-rate-totalDavidson, B. L., et al. (2021). Pharyngeal antisepsis to reduce COVID-19 pneumonia.https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(20)31114-1/fulltextElzein, R., et al. (2021). In vivo evaluation of the virucidal efficacy of chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine mouthwashes against salivary SARS-CoV-2. A randomized-controlled clinical trial.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1532338221000592?via%3DihubHow to protect yourself & others. (2022).https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.htmlMeyers, C., et al. (2020). Lowering the transmission and spread of human coronavirusMouthrinse (mouthwash). (2021).https://www.ada.org/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/oral-health-topics/mouthrinse-mouthwashO'Donnell, V. B., et al. (2020). Potential role of oral rinses targeting the viral lipid envelope in SARS-CoV-2 infection.https://academic.oup.com/function/article/1/1/zqaa002/5836301Symptoms of COVID-19. (2022).https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.htmlVergara-Buenaventura, A., et al. (2020). Use of mouthwashes against COVID-19 in dentistry.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7428696WHO coronavirus (COVID-19) dashboard. (2022).https://covid19.who.intXu, C., et al. (2021). Differential effects of antiseptic mouth rinses on SARS-CoV-2 infectivity in vitro.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/3/272/htmFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Darragh O'Carroll, MD — By Caitlin Geng on July 15, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? 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