Recently, the world has been shocked by the discovery of a new virus known as SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2). The virus is known to attack the respiratory system. Not only adults,but this virus can also infect children. Its symptoms are very similar with common cold, such as fever, pain, cough, nasal congestion, to sore throat. Some patients even did not show any symptom at all.

This viral infection can spread from human to human through droplets from an infected person when coughing or sneezing, which enters the body through the mouth, nose or eyes. Various methods are being used to help reduce the spread of this virus, starting from using masks to wash hands regularly. Washing your hands with soap is known to be very effective in helping to kill various types of viruses, including coronavirus.

Coronavirus is a virus that can create a lipid membrane (envelope) to envelop them in the host cell. The presence of these lipid membranes can help coronavirus replicate effectively. The use of soap or alcoholic hand sanitiser is known to interfere with the formation of the lipid membrane, so that it can slow down the process of its spread. However, coronavirus can also be found in the throat and salivary glands. Then, how can we suppress its spread?

According to the results of the latest scientific review published in the Function journal, experts speculate that mouthwash can help slow down the spread of the COVID-19 virus, thanks to its alcohol content. Although not many studies have been done on this, alcohol content in mouthwash is believed to be able to interfere with the formation of lipid membranes by the virus, just like soap. Therefore, the use of mouthwash is believed to help reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus in the throat or salivary glands.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Google Search Images

Source(s):

• O'Donnell, V. B., Thomas, D., Stanton, R., et al (2020). Potential role of oral access targeting the viral lipid envelope in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Function, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/function/zqaa002.
• Medical News Today - Mouthwash may reduce spread of the new coronavirus (2020). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/mouthwash-may-reduce-spread-of-the-new-coronavirus, 27 May 2020.