Benefits Of Chlorhexidine Mouthwash: –
- Single rinse with Chlorhexidine Mouthwash reduced the SARS-COV-2 viral load in the mouth for 2 hours helping reduce the viral transmission
- 4 days of chlorhexidine Mouthwash use eliminated SARS-COV-2 from the oropharynx in 62.1% of users
- Chlorhexidine Mouthwash is a simple & safe addition to the current COVID‐19
Mumbai, May 11: ICPA Health Products Ltd (ICPA), India’s leading pharmaceutical company and pioneers in the oral-health segment has submitted a representation to the Government requesting the inclusion of Chlorhexidine mouthwash to the list of precautionary measures and best health practices to reduce COVID19 transmission effectively. In the representation, ICPA has cited multiple independent studies that indicated that rinsing the mouth and gargling the throat with Chlorhexidine mouthwash eliminates the virus and reduces its transmission. ICPA has suggested to the Government that along with safe distancing, hand sanitization, proper use of masks and eyewear, the use of Chlorhexidine mouthwash can reduce virus transmission.
“India is witnessing a record number of cases in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although vaccines seem like the best option to develop herd immunity at the community level and to prevent the spread of infections, its implementation will take time to cover the entire population. In the interim, we urgently need measures that will help us crush the curve by preventing the spread and by reducing the severity of the infection. We need an inexpensive and effective solution to control the pandemic. Studies have suggested that Chlorhexidine mouthwash is a safe and straightforward addition to the current COVID‐19 prevention guidelines which is also inexpensive and widely available,” says Ms. Abha Damani, Director, ICPA Health Products Ltd.
Active cases have crossed the 24 lakh mark and, the number of new cases and the corresponding fatalities are rising every day.
“A new study in the Journal of Medical Virology, March 2021, offers an effective solution to the current crisis. The study suggests that Chlorhexidine mouthwash can eradicate the virus from the oropharyngeal region and its antiviral effect on enveloped viruses including the novel coronavirus SARS-COV-2 is known since 1990. An Indian study has found that Chlorhexidine digluconate in 0.2 percent concentration inactivated SARS-CoV-2 in minimal contact time of 30 seconds. SARS-CoV-2 is a weak virus, the envelope of which when destroyed, inactivates the virus. The studies are of great significance especially when the cases are rising because Chlorhexidine acts by destroying the outer envelope so that the mutations and genetically different variants all become susceptible,” says Dr. Rajeev Chitguppi, Technical Head (Marketing), ICPA Health Products Ltd.
Lancet’s study in April 2020 showed that Chlorhexidine in a concentration as low as 0.05 percent could inactivate SARS-COV-2. Currently available mouthwashes of 0.2 percent w/v concentration are four times stronger than 0.05 percent. Another study in May 2020 showed that a single rinse with Chlorhexidine reduced the SARS-COV-2 viral load in the mouth for 2 hours.
“A study published in the year 2010 showed that increasing the volume of 0.12 or 0.2 percent Chlorhexidine mouthwashes does not affect the duration of antimicrobial activity in saliva. But increasing the duration produces a marked increase in substantivity. Substantivity was found to be greater with 0.2 percent than in the 0.12 percent Chlorhexidine concentration. It also indicated that eating, chewing or drinking reduces the 0.2 percent Chlorhexidine substantivity in saliva significantly. The new evidences should be used to educate people about the use of Chlorhexidine mouthwash to eliminate the virus and reduce the transmission of the virus,” adds Dr Chitguppi.
“The use of Chlorhexidine mouthwash will help reduce the viral spread from asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic individuals to others thus reducing transmission in the community. It will reduce the oropharyngeal viral load in the symptomatic individuals and prevent the worsening of the condition. Right now, the country needs to take every possible measure that can reduce the burden on our doctors, health workers and medical infrastructure. The inclusion of Chlorhexidine mouthwash is a deterrent against the spread of the virus. We hope that the Government considers the suggestions and implements them at the earliest,” concludes Ms. Damani.