One hospital in England was the first to provide mouthwash for Covid patients.
Salisbury District Hospital is offering its patients one of three household brands, which are available on supermarket shelves from as little as £2 a bottle.
After a doctor’s research, hospital bosses decided to go ahead and make the unorthodox move.
Even though they may not be very helpful, the hospital stated that mouthwashes can be inexpensive and completely safe.
Laboratory tests show that the mouthwash chemicals can kill Covid within 30 seconds. However, rigorous clinical trials are needed to confirm these results.
A long list of studies conducted during the epidemic have shown that poor oral hygiene is linked to severe Covid infections. Some believe that bad teeth could be a sign of poor overall health.
Salisbury hospital offers patients mouthwashes that are made from Listerine, Dentyl, and Corsodyl.
The hospital treats approximately 15 Covid-infected patients per day. Doctors say that almost all of them have accepted the offer.
Patients at Covid are receiving mouthwashes after research suggested that they might be capable of inactivating the virus. Hospital bosses insist that they can still be safe for patients and improve their health.
Following research from one of its radiologists, Salisbury District Hospital agreed to offer mouthwashes for Covid patients.
International scientists have suggested that the virus may spread via blood instead of the airways. The hypothesis has yet to be supported by clinical studies.
SARS-CoV-2 is usually contracted by people who inhale tiny droplets of virus when they cough, sneeze or breathe.
It then travels down the respiratory tract — or throat — and reaches the lungs.
However, some scientists suggest that the virus might be capable of bypassing the airways.
According to them, instead of sitting in your mouth, it leaks into your gums and then eventually enters your bloodstream.
Then, it is said to ride down the lungs until it triggers cancer.
The hypothesis was published earlier this year in a paper in the Journal of Oral Medicine and Dental Research. Clinical studies have not yet supported the hypothesis.
Graham Lloyd-Jones is a Radiologist at Salisbury District Hospital and supports the idea with scans from Covid patients’ lungs.
Covid sufferers are more likely to develop pulmonary problems at the base and sides, where blood vessels are thicker.
For example, flu-infected people usually have damage to the airways at the centre of their lungs.
Lloyd-Jones claims this support his theory, as it indicates that Covid is more active in blood vessels than the airways.
He added the fact that people with gum disease — which weakens the gums — were more likely to suffer a severe Covid infection was more evidence that supported his hypothesis.
Scientists have suggested, however that this could be an indication of the patient’s overall health rather than proof.
The only study that has been done on the relation between severe Covid and oral hygiene was conducted by Queen Mary University of London. It found no evidence of any link.
The study’s leader, Professor Seif Shaheen, is a respiratory epidemiologist.
“But it’s an interesting hypothese and might be worth exploring further.”
Results from the COVIDENCE UK survey, which included 15,000 respondents, will soon be published in an academic publication.
Salisbury District Hospital provides mouthwashes for patients made with Listerine, Dentyl, and Corsodyl.
This includes drugs like dexamethasone to treat very ill people, as well as CPAP machines that increase the oxygen in their lungs.
The Guidance states: “We recommend that you immediately start to use one of these mouthwashes after receiving a positive Covid test and then continue using it for at least 2 weeks.”
“The saliva of the SARS-CoV-2 can remain in the mouth for up to two months.
It is intended for those who have Covid or suspect they may have it.
Listerine claims online that it is not designed to treat or prevent a Covid infection. It should only be used according to the instructions on the label.
According to the hospital’s guidance, patients are advised to wash their mouth twice daily. One time is 30 minutes prior or two times after brushing their teeth.
It adds patients should only use the products continuously for a few weeks, because if overused the acids they contain can erode tooth enamel.
Patients who are positive for the disease should immediately start to use mouthwashes and continue using them for at least 2 weeks.
Discussing the scheme, Dr Lloyd-Jones told MailOnline: ‘It is up to [Covid patients]Which mouthwash should you use?
“But they should present evidence to support their claims about the mouth, and inform them that poor oral hygiene is associated with gum disease and Covid.
He added: ‘The virus arrives in the nose and binds to cells responsible for sense of smell — hence its loss.
“It copies itself then in the mouth through the tiny salivary glands located on the tongue’s top.
“Everyone believes that the virus was inhaled and is being treated, but it is not likely from mine because normal airways.” [in Covid patients]Distribution [of damage]It is unique from other cases of viral pneumonia.
MailOnline has been informed that Dr Lloyd-Jones said clinical trials were planned in UK-based hospital settings for next year.
He said that he would like to be able view data from Salisbury District Hospital patients to determine if mouthwashes have made it less likely they had suffered severe Covid.
Stacey Hunter is chief executive at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. She said that they are proud of the work done by their colleagues here or with others.
Numerous treatments exist for Covid-related patients, such as at-home pills molnupiravir. This month was approved by UK authorities.
It can reduce hospitalization by up to half for elderly and vulnerable patients, according to clinical trials.