5 Best Mouthwashes for COVID-19 according to Evidence

The COVID-19 Delta variant replicates to achieve high viral loads in the throat. Therefore, appropriate mouthwashes will likely reduce the viral load in the throat and thereby reducing the risk of severe disease due to the viral load in the lungs.

Credit: covid19criticalcare.com

One of the key approaches to minimize the risk of severe COVID-19 and also transmission would be to reduce the viral load of COVID-19 virus in the saliva and throat. 

Mouthwash is part of the FLCCC I-MASK+ Protocol

Best Mouthwashes for COVID-19 according to evidence 2021

There are lots of great mouthwashes out there, and this list is by no means complete. We’ve included therapeutic mouthwashes with proven anti-COVID-19 ingredient, you can buy over the counter.

1. Betadine (Povidone Iodine) Gargle and Mouthwash

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The antiseptic povidone-iodine has immediate virucidal effects against COVID-19 virus. There are 7 published studies on povidone-iodine for COVID-19 (c19pvpi.com).

Povidone-iodine is no. 1 in this COVID-19 drug league table:

Credit: c19early.com

Instruction: Gargle twice a day or after having been out for prevention, and three times a day for early treatment of COVID-19.

• CONTAINS one 8 oz bottle (24 uses) of Betadine Antiseptic Sore Throat Gargle for the temporary relief of occasional sore throat
• TREAT AND RELIEVE SORE THROAT SYMPTOMS the moment you feel a sore throat coming on
• FAST ACTING GARGLE From Betadine, the brand that has been trusted by healthcare professionals for over 50 years.
• 0.5% POVIDONE-IODINE ANTISEPTIC GARGLE
• MINT FLAVOR, ALCOHOL FREE FORMULATION

“Iodine is essential to not only fighting off an infection it is necessary for proper immune system functioning. There is no bacteria, virus, parasite or fungus that is known to be resistant to iodine.”

- Dr. David Brownstein

2. Scope Mouthwash

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A lab study demonstrated that CPC (CetylPyridinium Chloride) was highly effective against a human coronavirus (BioRxiv 2020). CPC mouthwash is also part of the FLCCC I-MASK+ protocol for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Instruction: twice a day or after having been out for prevention, and three times a day for early treatment of COVID-19.

• Ingredients: Cetylpyridinium Chloride (CPC), Water, Alcohol (15 Wt%), Glycerin, Flavor, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Saccharin, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid, Blue 1, Yellow 5
• Kills 99% of bad breath germs in lab tests
• Crest clean meets Scope freshness
• Cosmetic mouthwash
• Made in the USA with U.S. and imported ingredients
• Original Mint Flavor

3. Crest Pro Health Intense Mouthwash with CPC (Cetylpyridinium Chloride)

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A lab study demonstrated that CPC (CetylPyridinium Chloride) was highly effective against a human coronavirus (BioRxiv 2020). CPC mouthwash is also part of the FLCCC I-MASK+ protocol for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Instruction: twice a day or after having been out for prevention, and three times a day for early treatment of COVID-19.

• Active Ingredients: Cetylpyridinium Chloride 0.05% Inactive Ingredients Water, Alcohol (15 Wt%), Propylene Glycol, Flavor, Poloxamer 407, Sucralose, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Blue 1, Yellow 6
• 99% Germ Kill with no medicinal taste
• Cooling sensation
• Keeps teeth clean longer
• Freshens breath
• Fights plaque & gingivitis

4. Colgate Zero with CPC

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The biggest red flag on an ingredient list for mouthwash is alcohol, according to board-certified dentist Michaela Tozzi, DMD, since it can irritate the gums and oral tissue. Plus, it temporarily depletes saliva flow, which acts as the mouth's immune system. Colgate Zero is alcohol free and contains the anti-viral CPC.

Instruction: Gargle twice a day or after having been out for prevention, and three times a day for early treatment of COVID-19.

• Active Ingredient: Cetylpyridinium Chloride
• Kills 99% of plaque germs
• 0% alcohol
• 0% dyes
• 0% artificial flavors
• 0% artificial sweeteners

5. Colgate Peroxyl

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Chinese health authorities recommended the use of povidone–iodine (PI) and hydrogen peroxide-based mouth-rinses as a pre-procedural preventive measure, while the American Dental Association has advocated the use of 1% hydrogen peroxide mouth-rinse before dental examination.

Instruction: Gargle twice a day or after having been out for prevention, and three times a day for early treatment of COVID-19.

• Active ingredient: Hydrogen peroxide 1.5%.
• Mouth rinses cleanses and promotes healing of minor oral wounds
• Helps promote healing of: oral sores, irritations, mouth burns
• Oxygenating action removes oral debris to facilitate healing
• Soothes minor gum inflammation from dental procedures, dentures and orthodontic appliances
• Antiseptic mouthwash, alcohol free formula

Key Takeaways

With so many options, you might wish to choose the one which is the most easily available to you. You might even wish to use the alternating strategy where you alternate between two different mouthwashes with different active ingredients in order to optimise the effectiveness.

That said, mouthwash alone cannot be used as a stand-alone strategy to prevent or treat COVID-19. You must still adhere to your local guidelines such as vaccination, face mask, hand sanitisation, quarantine, social distancing and etc.

Please consult your doctor before you start to take any drug or supplement for COVID-19.