Dental professor encourages teeth cleaning before leaving the house to reduce Coronavirus spread
A dental professor is encouraging the public to brush their teeth before leaving the house to try and reduce the risk of contracting Coronavirus.
Professor Martin Addy, from the University of Bristol, said that using toothpaste can help to lower the chances of both catching and spreading the virus.
In a letter published in The Times, Prof Addy urged people to brush their teeth before leaving the house, as the antimicrobial effects of toothpaste only last up to 5 hours. This would ensure a positive impact if an individual was to come into contact with an infected person. The role of saliva droplets has been highlighted by scientists time and time again during the fight against the virus, and Prof Addy said that he was surprised that nothing had been said about the potential benefits of brushing the teeth with toothpaste. Toothpaste contains some of the same ingredients as hand wash and could provide protection against infection and reduce the viral load.
As well as advising members of the public to brush before leaving home, Prof Addy also urged health workers and other key workers to clean their teeth before putting on protective equipment at the start of a shift.
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