Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LISTERINE MOUTHWASH CAN help kill off gonorrhoea in the mouth, according to new research in the British Medical Journal.
Daily rinsing and gargling using the mouthwash has the potential to be a cheap and easy way to prevent the sexually transmitted infection spread, say researchers.
“This readily available, condom-less, and low cost intervention may have serious public health implications in the control of gonorrhoea,” they claim.
The brand has long claimed to kill 99% of bacteria in your mouth, but this is the first scientific study to put this to the test, its authors suggest.
The Australian research team highlight that new cases of gonorrhoea among men are on the rise in many countries, with gay and bisexual men representing the majority of cases.
In the trial, 196 gay and bisexual men who had previously tested positive for the sexually transmitted infection were returning for treatment at a clinic in Melbourne. Of these, 58 of them tested positive for gonorrhoea bacteria in their throat.
A majority (33 of them) were randomly assigned to rinse and gargle with Listerine, while the other 25 were given a saline solution instead.
The research showed: “After rinsing and gargling for 1 minute, the proportion of viable gonorrhoea in the throat was 52% among the men using Listerine compared with 84% among those using saline.
And the men using Listerine were 80% less likely to test positive for gonorrhoea in their throat five minutes after gargling than were the men using the saline solution.
While acknowledging that their test is limited because the effects of the mouthwash could have been short lived, researchers said that their lab results would suggest a longer effect.
They conclude: “Listerine mouthwash is a cheap, easy to use and effective agent that inhibits gonorrhoea growth and requires further careful consideration and study.”
No competing interests were declared in relation to the study.
Earlier this year, the HSE’s national clinical lead on sexual health, Dr Fiona Lyons, said that the emerging super-gonorrhoea was a “serious threat” in Ireland. The term super-gonorrhoea was coined for a strain of the infection which is growing resistant to antibiotics.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I picked The Reason I Jump as I’m on the autism spectrum and have only recently learnt that most or many people wholly or partially relive (negative) experiences as they recall them, while I’ve simply labelled them with a score, which has led to a few awkward social situations, but now I understand why and I’m eager to learn more.
That said, Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci are both brilliant and the topic of Supernova is touching and significant, so I’ll definitely want to watch that too.
A cheery bunch.
One really wet day I watched Song for a Raggy Boy, Angelas Ashes and The Magdalene Laundries one after the other.
Had a couple of pints after.
I think I’ll listen to the new song from radiohead
What a sorry selection.
I’m heading to see….in the heights…has anyone seen it yet? I have heard good things!
@Gareth Miskelly: it’s brilliant, uplifting and refreshingly un-cynical plus the songs are all tunes
@Jake Kelly: I got excited and watched the trailer. It looks terrible. But then again I turned off Hamilton after 15 minutes. Rap musicals aren’t my thing. They’re cringe as hell.
@Thomas Smyth: Thomas, Thomas… you hurt my very soul with that comment. Im a Hamilton fanatic. Know almost all the lyrics.
Song for while I’m Away
Where is the “None” option, it applies to me at least.
have your say