Prospective, cross-sectional study evaluating the effect of commercially available mouthwashes on expelled/exhaled SARS-CoV-2 viral load using face mask sampling.

The study will consist of a Control Phase to optimize procedures for measuring expelled/exhaled viral load, and a Evaluation phase comparing different commercially available mouthwashes.

In the Control Phase. up to 20 COVID-19 patients will be asked to undergo a sequence of face mask sampling and saliva collections prior to and after an oral rinse with (i) water and (ii) a commercially-available cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) mouthwash.

Based on outcomes of the Control Phase, the study will proceed into the Evaluation Phase, which will randomize approximately 40 COVID-19 patients to receive 1 of 4 commercially available Colgate mouthwashes following standard package instructions. Face mask sampling and saliva will be collected prior to and after the mouth rinse to assess impact on SARS-CoV-2 viral load.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥ 18
2. Able to provide consent
3. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 within previous 48 hours.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Clinical contraindication or poor feasibility to complete study procedures
2. Unwilling or unable to produce saliva or face mask samples
3. Unable to produce at least 500 microliters of saliva.
4. Eaten within past 30 minutes
5. Known allergy to mouthwash products

Individual participant data that underlie the results reported in this article, after deidentification (text, tables, figures, and appendices)

Beginning 3 months and ending 5 years following article publication

Researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal

Face mask and saliva SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA loads are measured before and after water rinse and before and after mouthwash rinse (intervention). Order is randomized. Participant is not told which rinse they are using, though can likely differentiate by taste.