Martin Addy, emeritus professor of dentistry at the University of Bristol, said toothpaste can reduce the chances of catching or spreading the disease through the mouth for hours. He said the effect of the toothpaste can last for three to five hours – and so suggests brushing your teeth just before you leave the house, reports The Mirror.
In a letter in The Times, Mr Addy, wrote: “Scientists, in support of mouth and nasal coverings, have emphasised the role of saliva droplets in the spread of Covid-19. It is perhaps surprising, therefore, that toothbrushing with toothpaste has not been emphasised as an effective procedure. Toothpaste contains the same detergents as those found in handwash gels recommended against coronavirus. Indeed, the antimicrobial action of toothpaste in the mouth persists for three to five hours and, thereby, would reduce the viral load in saliva or infection by viruses entering the mouth.”
He added: “As a large proportion of our population is in lockdown, one of the brushings could be immediately before leaving home for exercise, shopping etc. For those workers in the NHS, brushing should be before putting on protective equipment.”
In a previous letter to the British Dental Journal, Mr Addy said he was surprised the dental profession had not been promoting teeth brushing as a preventative approach to coronavirus. He added that the recommended oral hygiene practice of brushing twice a day for two minutes should be reinforced. Mr Addy said many of those who are not doing this are some of the most vulnerable to Covid-19, such as elderly people in nursing homes who rely on carers to brush their teeth.
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