Recent studies conducted by Colgate-Palmolive suggest that certain oral care products may play a role in temporarily reducing the amount of SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19 — in your mouth. Laboratory tests found that specific kinds of toothpaste with zinc, stannous fluoride or amine fluoride, as well as mouthwashes with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine, or stannous fluoride/amine fluoride, neutralised the virus by more than 99%. An initial clinical test performed pre-procedurally with COVID-19 positive patients showed that certain mouthwashes with CPC plus zinc, hydrogen peroxide, or chlorhexidine significantly reduced the amount of virus in the mouth for up to 60 minutes after rinsing. We’re working hard to figure out how this initial research translates into temporarily reduced virus levels in the mouth, and what this may mean for you. There is currently no evidence that the tested products can prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19, or alleviate its symptoms, and the products are not intended to be used for these purposes. However, regular brushing and rinsing can play an important role in keeping your mouth clean and healthy. Keep reading for answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Q&A ON COLGATE-PALMOLIVE LABORATORY AND CLINICAL RESULTS ON EFFECTS OF TOOTHPASTE AND MOUTHWASH ON COVID-19 VIRUS
Overall Questions:
1. Can oral care products protect me from contracting or transmitting COVID-19?
There is currently no evidence that the use of oral care products can prevent you from getting the virus. If the virus that causes COVID-19 is detected in your mouth, then you have already been infected. Additional studies are necessary to determine whether lowering the amount of the virus in saliva — which can be transmitted through talking, singing or coughing — might help to reduce the risk of transmission to others.
2. Can oral care products make my COVID-19 symptoms less severe or help me to recover more quickly?
No, there is no evidence that the use of oral care products can make your COVID-19 symptoms less severe or help you to recover more quickly. Many factors contribute to the length and severity of COVID-19, including the strength of your immune system. Our products are not intended to be used nor approved to prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19, or alleviate its symptoms.
3. In a laboratory test, which toothpastes and mouthwashes neutralised SARS-CoV-2 by 99% and more?
Toothpastes tested included certain formulas with zinc, stannous fluoride, or amine fluoride.
Mouthwashes and sprays tested included certain formulas with 0.075% CPC, 1.5% hydrogen peroxide, 0.12% chlorhexidine, or stannous fluoride/amine fluoride.
4. In the initial clinical study, which mouthwashes significantly reduced the amount of virus in the mouth for up to 60 minutes?
Formulas tested were: 1.5% hydrogen peroxide, 0.12% chlorhexidine, and 0.075% CPC plus 0.28% zinc.
5. What does it mean to “neutralise the virus”?
To “neutralise the virus” means that the virus is present but not infectious and can no longer multiply in the host.
6. How do oral care products help to neutralise the virus?
Current research suggests that the tested oral care products disrupt and dissolve the viral envelope. The loss or damage of this outer coating prevents the virus from attaching to cells and infecting them.
7. Should I brush or rinse before going out or meeting people?
Oral care should be part of your daily personal hygiene routine, and you should continue to wear masks, practice social distancing, and wash your hands to help prevent virus transmission. There is currently no evidence that brushing or rinsing prevents, treats, or cures COVID-19, or alleviates its symptoms. Additional studies are necessary to determine whether lowering the amount of virus in saliva, which can be transmitted through talking, singing, or coughing, might help reduce the risk of transmission to others. Regular brushing and rinsing is key to maintaining good oral health. We have planned additional studies to evaluate how brushing and rinsing affect the amount of virus in your mouth.
8. How do laboratory test results represent what happens in a person's mouth?
Laboratory testing is designed to show whether the test products can neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Colgate-Palmolive is conducting additional clinical research to determine whether similar results occur in the mouth to help neutralise and temporarily lower virus levels.
9. Did you test competitor products?
We did not test competitor products.
10. If I brush my teeth or rinse with mouthwash, do I need to wear a mask?
Yes. The World Health Organization (WHO), the National Health Service (NHS) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) recommend everyone wear face masks to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Continue to follow guidelines that help prevent the contraction and spread of COVID-19, such as wearing a mask, practising social distancing and washing your hands.
11. Does brushing your teeth or rinsing with mouthwash have any effect on your antibodies?
No, brushing your teeth or rinsing with mouthwash will not have any impact on your antibody levels.
Toothpaste Questions
12. Does every toothpaste neutralise the virus that causes COVID-19?
We have conducted laboratory studies of select toothpaste formulas with zinc, stannous fluoride, or amine fluoride to determine whether they neutralise the virus that causes COVID-19. We do not have any data on other toothpastes which do not contain these ingredients.
13. Does brushing my teeth impact the amount of the virus that causes COVID-19 in my mouth?
While our SARS-CoV-2 laboratory results are encouraging, we cannot say whether these effects will also occur in the mouth without conducting a clinical study. Our clinical program is currently testing COVID-19-positive subjects to understand if brushing with certain toothpaste formulas will temporarily reduce the amount of virus in their mouths.
14. How long will the tested toothpastes reduce the level of virus that causes COVID-19 in the mouth?
We are doing more research to determine whether the neutralisation of the virus in laboratory tests will also occur in the mouth.
Mouth Rinse/Mouth Spray:
15. Does every mouthwash or mouth spray neutralise the virus that causes COVID-19?
We have conducted laboratory studies of select mouthwash/mouth spray formulas with 0.075% CPC, 1.5% hydrogen peroxide, 0.12% chlorhexidine, or stannous fluoride/amine fluoride to determine whether they neutralise the virus that causes COVID-19. We do not have any data on other mouthwashes or mouth sprays which do not contain these ingredients.
16. Does every mouthwash or mouth spray temporarily reduce the amount of virus in the mouth?
We conducted initial testing of formulas with 1.5% hydrogen peroxide, 0.12% chlorhexidine, and 0.075% CPC plus 0.28% zinc, and are pleased to report that they were effective in temporarily reducing the amount of virus in the mouth. We did not test other products.
17. Do chlorhexidine (CHX) 0.12% and 0.2% work as well as hydrogen peroxide?
The laboratory study was not designed to compare effectiveness between products. It was used only to test the ability of products to neutralise the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
18. By how much will rinsing with mouthwash or using mouth spray reduce the amount of virus in my mouth?
Laboratory tests showed that in either 30 or 60 seconds of contact time, certain mouth rinses, including those with cetylpyridinium chloride, neutralised the virus that causes COVID-19 by 99.9%. We conducted an initial clinical study to determine whether this neutralisation effect translates into a temporary reduction of the virus in the mouth and confirmed that, for those mouth rinses tested, it does. Results from an initial clinical study conducted on select mouthwash formulas show that rinsing as directed provides an immediate impact, significantly reducing virus levels in the mouth. These reduced virus levels are sustained up to 30 and 60 minutes after rinsing, though levels are lowest immediately after rinsing.
19. Will rinsing with mouthwash protect me from COVID-19?
While an initial clinical study shows a significant temporary reduction of virus levels in the mouth using certain mouthwashes — which is sustained up to 60 minutes after rinsing — no evidence currently exists that rinsing with a mouthwash or using a mouth spray protects against contracting or transmitting COVID-19. However, rinsing regularly plays an important role in maintaining good oral health. Dental professionals recommend using mouthwash as part of your daily oral care regimen.
This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.