Scientists created a new chewing gum neutralizes 95% of viruses in your mouth

Thekabarnews.com—Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are still testing the medical gum they produced. The goal is to significantly reduce the number of viruses in saliva. Early studies in the lab show that the gum can kill more than 95% of some viral particles. This strategy might offer a new way to keep infections from spreading.

The new notion is similar to a molecular decoy. The gum doesn’t kill viruses that are already in your body. Instead, it maintains virus particles in the mouth. That phenomenon is one of the main ways that respiratory infections spread.

When someone consumes the gum, plant-based proteins that have been modified to adhere to viruses in saliva inhibit the viruses from sticking to cells in the mouth.

The scientists employed ACE2 proteins to fight the virus that causes COVID-19. They also used FRIL proteins from lablab beans to fight the flu and herpes viruses. As a result, the gum may lessen the number of viruses that come out when someone talks, coughs, or sneezes. It achieves its objective by lowering the amount of viruses in saliva.

The gum destroyed more than 95% of the virus in the lab with only 40 milligrams. Scientists believe that these early results are excellent for public health, especially in settings with many people. That setting would include places such as schools, hospitals, airports, and public transit.

You don’t have to keep this gum in the fridge like you do with many other drugs. It is stable at room temperature for more than two years. In addition, researchers have made it cheap and easy to access. The latter feature is important, especially in areas where people can get it quickly.

In the first half of 2026, clinical tests on individuals should start. Experts stress that you should use the gum together with antiviral medications or vaccines. It could be an extra layer of defense that stops outbreaks from getting worse.

If clinical trials indicate that this antiviral chewing gum works in real life, it could be an inexpensive and beneficial tool for people to curb the spread of new and seasonal diseases.