Swish around a little mouthwash in your mouth for fresh breath, right? Right. But what about gargling some mouthwash to get rid of an STD? Haven’t heard of that?
Well, we hadn’t either, until now.
A commercial brand of mouthwash can help control gonorrhea bacteria in the mouth, and daily use may offer a cheap and easy way to reduce the spread of the sexually transmitted disease, a small study from Australia contends.
Gonorrhea rates among men are on the rise in many countries due to declining condom use, and most cases occur in gay/bisexual men, researchers said.
The maker of Listerine mouthwash has claimed as far back as 1879 that it could be used against gonorrhea, though no published research has ever proved it.
In laboratory tests, the authors of this new study found that Listerine Cool Mint and Total Care (which are both 21.6 percent alcohol) significantly reduced levels of gonorrhea bacteria.
A salt water (saline) solution did not.
The researchers then conducted a clinical trial with 58 gay/bisexual men who previously tested positive for gonorrhea in their mouths/throats.
The men were randomly assigned to rinse and gargle for one minute with either Listerine or a salt solution.
After doing so, the amount of viable gonorrhea in the throat was 52 percent in the Listerine group and 84 percent among those who used the salt solution. Five minutes later, men in the Listerine group were 80 percent less likely to test positive for gonorrhea in the throat than those in the salt solution group.
The study was published online Dec. 20 in the journal Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
The monitoring period after gargling was short, so it’s possible the effects of Listerine might be short-term, but the lab findings suggest otherwise, according to the researchers.
A larger study is underway to confirm these preliminary findings.
Oral symptoms that could indicate an STD include:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an oral STD often doesn’t produce any noticeable symptoms. So it’s important to be aware of both your own oral and sexual health and that of your partner.
Oral Herpes
Herpes is the most common oral STD in the United States and is present in more than half the adult population. Many contract the disease as children by getting a kiss from a family member or friend infected with HSV-1, according to the American Sexual Health Association. Herpes causes oral blisters and cold sores, which usually heal in 7–10 days, but can break out again at any time. Oral herpes can be transmitted to genital tissue, even when no symptoms are present.
Gonorrhea
While gonorrhea is generally transmitted through sex, a 2019 study indicates that kissing an infected person may be a risk, as well. It’s most common among people ages 15–24. Oral symptoms of gonorrhea include a burning sensation and pain in the mouth and throat, as well as swollen tonsils and white spots on the tissue. Many people experience no symptoms at all, so testing is very important.
Syphilis
Syphilis is transmitted through direct contact with a syphilitic sore, according to the CDC. Oral symptoms of syphilis include sores on your lips, tongue, gums or elsewhere in the mouth and throat. They could start as small red patches and develop into larger, open sores if left untreated.
Epstein Barr Virus (EBV)
EBV is contracted or transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, such as saliva, making kissing a high-risk activity with anyone infected, warns the CDC. Oral symptoms of EBV are mononucleosis or development of oral hairy leukoplakia, which can produce white patches in the mouth that are hard to the touch and can’t easily be wiped away.
Step one to help prevent STDs is communicating with your partner — have they been tested recently? Do they have any symptoms?
Step two is practicing safe sex, including safe oral sex (using a barrier method). You should also maintain a high standard of oral hygiene, which reduces your risk for developing any type of sore or infection in the mouth. Note that you have an increased risk of contracting STIs during oral sex if you have gum disease or any oral wounds.
Step three is ongoing — you have to maintain a healthy mouth in general. So yes, make sure you floss, brush your gums, and use your mouthwash daily.
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