Gonorrhoea infections are on the rise. There is also an increase in antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Previous studies have suggested that the oropharynx may be an important site for gonorrhoea transmission. Gonorrhoea may spread from the oropharynx through tongue kissing, rimming and using saliva as lubricant during anal sex. Antiseptic mouthwash has been proposed as a novel intervention to prevent oropharyngeal gonorrhoea infection.
The aim of this study was to examine mouthwash practices among frequent (four times or more per week) mouthwash users in order to understand the method and duration of mouthwash use.
We recruited 200 participants. Participants were observed and audio recorded using mouthwash. They also completed a survey.
Our findings suggest that many frequent mouthwash users do not follow the manufacturer instructions for using mouthwash. Additionally, they may not use mouthwash in a way that was shown to reduce the growth of throat gonorrhoea.
Publications
Duration of gargling and rinsing among frequent mouthwash users: a cross-sectional study
Phillips TR, Fairley CK, Maddaford K, Trumpour S, Wigan R, Bradshaw CS, Hocking JS, Chow EPF
(2020), BMJ,