/oss/taxonomy/term/4441/all en /oss/article/covid-19-health/mouthing-about-mouthwash-covid <p>Can rinsing your mouth with the right mouthwash protect you from the novel coronavirus or reduce your risk of transmitting it to someone else? A recent study involving mouthwash and the coronavirus (but no actual mouth) gives us a great opportunity to dissect the many ways in which interesting laboratory results can end up getting distorted through a game of telephone. If your cousin told your family group chat that gurgling with cetylpyridinium chloride will end the pandemic, lend me your ear.</p> Fri, 27 Nov 2020 17:00:00 +0000 Jonathan Jarry M.Sc. 8492 at /oss /oss/article/health/gargling-listerine <p>Can gargling with Listerine be of any help in reducing the risk of coronavirus infection? That is one of the numerous questions that has been raised by the increasing army of straw-clutchers. After all, we are familiar with the classic slogan, “Kills Germs by Millions on Contact.” Aren’t viruses germs? Yes, they are, but the slogan was coined in reference to bacteria in the mouth. With that being said, Listerine does actually have some antiviral effects. At least in the test tube.</p> Wed, 01 Apr 2020 19:57:31 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8203 at /oss