Common mouthwashes may have the potential to reduce Covid-19 viral load in the mouth - CNBC

However other experts are skeptical about the usefulness or relevance of these findings, as the study did not specifically test the SARS-CoV-2 strain of coronavirus, and it did not test the usefulness of the products in people.

Still, Penn State researchers call the findings "promising" and lead them to believe that certain oral rinses and other products tested could potentially help reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 as well, the report said.

"The researchers found that several of the nasal and oral rinses had a strong ability to neutralize human coronavirus, which suggests that these products may have the potential to reduce the amount of virus spread by people who are COVID-19-positive," Penn State said in a release.

Craig Meyers, a professor of microbiology and immunology and obstetrics and gynecology, who led the study, along with his team of researchers, have been studying different ways to lower the transmission and spread of human coronaviruses through aerosolized respiratory droplets, which is a method of transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

Meyers also says that more clinical trials are still needed to determine if the products they tested (J&J Baby Shampoo, Orajel Antiseptic Rinse, Listerine Antiseptic and Peroxide Sore Mouth, to name a few) can reduce the amount of the virus in Covid-19 positive patients' oral cavity and what specific ingredients in the solutions tested inactivated the virus.

To conduct the study, Meyers and his team of scientists, used a strain of human coronavirus called 229e, which he says is structurally similar to SARS-CoV-2.