Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Mouthwashes - A Review Article

The coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) belongs to the coronavirus family. It is linked to transmission from person to person. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was recently discovered in contaminated patients saliva. Because of the close closeness to the patient during dental care, the significant production of aerosols, and the discovery of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva, the oral cavity has been identified as a potential reservoir for COVID-19 transmission. Mouthwashes are popular because they help to reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth. Despite the lack of clinical evidence, to minimize the amount of microorganisms in aerosols and drops during oral procedures, antimicrobial mouth rinses with chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, povidone-iodine, Listerine, and hydrogen peroxide have been prescribed before surgery. As a result, the aim of this paper is to analyze the benefits and drawbacks of most antiseptic mouthwashes used in dentistry, as well as to provide a detailed review of current guidelines for the use of mouthwashes in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.