Knowledge and conduct of dental students about mouthwash prior to dental procedures amid the COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) generated an unusual condition around the world, affecting the essentials of clinical practice in dentistry. Aim The purpose of this survey was to determine dental students’ conduct and knowledge regarding using pre-procedural mouthwashes. Methods A cross-sectional study was undertaken for 148 undergraduate dental students at the Dental College/University of Mosul using an online questionnaire. participated in this survey, where 36.5% were female and 63.5% were male, and The survey format had 12 questions delivered to participants, and the replies were statistically analyzed. The data were imported and analyzed using SPSS software (version 22). Results The current study found that 59.5% of participants thought pre-procedural mouthwash was helpful in preventing COVID-19 infections in dental settings, while 40.5% of participants believed that it is not, and for the most effective mouthrinse against COVID-19, 48.6% of participants said chlorhexidine for 30 seconds, while 51.4% said chlorhexidine for 60 seconds. Conclusions Dental students are conscious of the value of pre-procedural mouthwash but need more clarity on the correct concentration, amount, and duration.