Could your mouthwash fight gonorrhea? new study investigates

NCT ID NCT04966507

Completed Prevention Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 10, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tested whether using an antibacterial mouthwash every day could lower the chance of getting gonorrhea in the throat. Researchers recruited 89 HIV-positive and HIV-negative men at high risk. Participants gargled with either Listerine or a placebo mouthwash daily. The study looked at how well people stuck with the routine and whether the mouthwash reduced infections.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash (active ingredients: eucalyptol, menthol, methyl salicylate, thymol)
What this could lead to: If it works, daily mouthwash could become a simple, low-cost way to help prevent throat gonorrhea infections.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial with only 89 participants. The mouthwash may not reduce infections enough to be meaningful, and results may not apply to the general population.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

gonorrhea prevention target

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

GONORRHEA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Los Angeles LGBT Center

Los Angeles, California, 90028, United States

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