Rinsing with Listerine mouthwash can stymie gonorrhea infections in the mouth and throat, according to a study published in Sexually Transmitted Infections.
The study found Listerine can kill Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria that cause gonorrhea infections.
After testing Listerine's effect on N. gonorrhoeae in the lab, researchers recruited gay men with pharyngeal gonorrhea infections to participate in a trial. Participants gargled with either Listerine Cool Mint or saline for one minute. Men in the Listerine group were significantly less likely to return a positive mouth culture than men in the saline group (52 percent compared to 84 percent).
"With daily use [Listerine] may increase gonococcal clearance and have important implications for prevention strategies," the study concluded.