Mouthwash can kill coronavirus within seconds of being used, a scientific report claims.

Now a clinical trial will be held to verify the “promising signs” of combatting the virus.

The Cardiff University report said over-the-counter mouthwashes having at minimum of 0.07 per cent cetypyridinium chloride (CPC) has an effect.

The study is to be peer reviewed, but it does support previous findings.

Report lead Professor David Thomas from Cardiff University said:

“Whilst these mouthwashes very effectively eradicate the virus in the laboratory, we need to see if they work in patients and this is the point of our ongoing clinical study.

“It is important to point out the study won’t give us any direct evidence on viral transmission between patients, that would require a different type of study on a much larger scale.

“The ongoing clinical study will, however, show us how long any effects last, following a single administration of the mouthwash in patients with Covid-19.

“Although this in-vitro study is very encouraging and is a positive step, more clinical research is now clearly needed.

“We need to understand if the effect of over-the-counter mouthwashes on the Covid-19 virus achieved in the laboratory can be reproduced in patients, and we look forward to completing our clinical trial in early 2021.”

Dentyl was one of the mouthwashes tested for its efficacy.

Dr Nick Claydon, a specialist periodontologist, said he believed the research was “very valuable”.

He said: “If these positive results are reflected in Cardiff University’s clinical trial, CPC-based mouthwashes such as Dentyl used in the in-vitro study could become an important addition to people’s routine, together with hand washing, physical distancing and wearing masks, both now and in the future.”