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As it is a home remedy, the benefits of gargling salt water are many. Some of the benefits are that it dampens the mouth, flushes out bacteria and viruses, keeps oral hygiene in check, is convenient to make, and is affordable.
Salt water gargling acts as a remedy that can cure various infections. You may have already heard about this remedy from your mom or grandma. It is a perfect solution to cure mild health-related issues. Its legacy is carried forward from the ancient era, passing it from one generation to another.
1. All About The Benefits Of Gargling Salt Water
Saltwater is nothing but a mixture of water and sodium chloride that is commonly known as salt. Before knowing the benefits of gargling salt water1, let’s first find out how it is made.
1.1. Process :
The below recipe is the general recipe for making salt water.
- First of all, take a glass full of water.
- Add a teaspoon of salt to it.
- Mix it well.
Water taken can be either cold or hot. But warm water is usually preferred for gargling.
When you put salt in a cup of warm water, then it is more effective on your oral hygiene2 than cold water.
You can also add flavor to the saltwater by adding ingredients such as lemon, garlic, honey, or herbs like holy basil, mint, etc.
1.2. Benefits of Gargling Salt Water :
Saltwater is an effective natural home remedy that adults, as well as children, can use. This remedy helps us in curing various things such as:
Sore throat3 is a symptom of infections such as the common cold, flu, etc. A sore throat means itching in the throat; when it happens, it does not allow anything to pass through the throat easily. Thus, gargling salt water brings relief to the itching of the throat and also helps in soothing the sore throat.
Sinus Infections
Sinus Infection4 is a condition in which the nasal passages and the cavities are on fire. Sometimes it is caused due to cold or allergies. Here, the benefit of gargling with salt water is that it reduces the pain and inflammation around the gums and nasal passages, and dampens the mouth.
Canker Sores
Canker sores5 are a condition in which small ulcers [pores] show up inside the mouth. These are painful mouth sores caused due to stress, acidic vegetables or fruits, or hot spicy food. Therefore, gargling salt water helps in reducing the canker sores by filtering and cleansing the mouth area.
Respiratory Infections
Respiratory infections mainly happen due to climate change in fall and winter. The body parts that are affected by these infections are the throat, nose, and lungs. Most of these infections are viral or bacterial.
Here, gargling salt water benefits in reducing infections. It flushes out the mucus which is built up in our respiratory tracts.
Allergies
Allergies due to dust can affect the nasal passage and throat. Salt water gargling reduces the infection and dampens the throat. The benefit of salt water gargling is that it hunts down the bacteria in the mouth area and leaves relieving sensation in the throat.
Dental Health
Here, gargling salt water benefits in that it helps keep the mouth and throat fresh and germ-free. It aids in keeping the gums and teeth healthy and strong. It kills the germs in the cavities, as well as keeps the mouth refreshed.
Maintains pH Level –
Salt water acts as a neutralizer of acids6 in the mouth. It dampens the mouth and also removes the bacteria that cause an acidic reaction in the mouth. Thus, it balances the pH level of the mouth.
Cost-Effective
As salt water is a home remedy, the ingredients used for making salt water are regular household items. The only ingredient we need is water and salt. Thus salt water can be easily made at home without any extra cost. Therefore, it is a modest method to prevent infections.
Eliminates Bad Breath
The common benefit of gargling salt water is that it keeps the mouth fresh by killing the bacteria that cause bad breath. Therefore, salt water gargling acts as a mouthwash. By adding the flavors to salt water, it can also become an alternative to mouth sanitizer.
Decrease of Harmful Bacteria in the Mouth
Saltwater flushes out the bacteria from the mouth that causes toothache or bleeding gum. It helps in cleaning and removing bacteria from gums and also prevents the building of tartar and plaque. It also prevents diseases like gingivitis [a gum disease] and maintains oral health.
These are the benefits of gargling salt water.
1.3. Considerations :
As it is a home remedy, it does not have any side effects. But the risk to consider is the amount of salt you put in the water.
If you have high blood pressure, then it is good to consult with the doctor to consume the amount of salt. When you gargle with salt water, try not to drink it. Even if you consume it, it does not have any fatal effect on your body.
But, it is best to gargle the salt water and spit it out. So that the bacteria and virus get flushed out, and the mouth area remains refreshed.
1.4. How to Gargle :
Gargling is a simple method.
- First, you have to take a mouthful of water and then tilt your head backward.
- Just try to keep the water in your mouth without swallowing it.
- Then gargle for 30 seconds.
- After gargling, swish the water around the gums and teeth and spit it out.
This process should be repeated till the water in the glass gets finished. By doing it many times a day, you can acquire better oral health.
2. Conclusion
Salt and water are the most commonly used household items all around the world. When salt and water are combined together, they become more beneficial. They cure various infections and diseases.
Saltwater gargling is a cost-effective method that prevents diseases and keeps our oral hygiene better. Hopefully, this article gave you an overview of the benefits of gargling salt water.
FAQ
1. What does gargling with salt water do?
2. Can salt water cure mouth infections?
3. How many hours should I gargle salt water?
Proofreaded by:
Dr. Foram Bhuta
Dentist (B.D.S)
- Lindsey, Tommy, and Ben Gillette. “The Effectiveness of Saltwater Gargling on the Prevention of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections.” Osteopathic Family Physician 13.4 (2021): 19-23. ↩︎
- Choo, Audrey, David M. Delac, and Louise Brearley Messer. “Oral hygiene measures and promotion: review and considerations.” Australian dental journal 46.3 (2001): 166-173. ↩︎
- McHardy, F. E., and F. Chung. “Postoperative sore throat: cause, prevention and treatment.” Anaesthesia 54.5 (1999): 444-453. ↩︎
- Staudacher, Anna G., and Whitney W. Stevens. “Sinus infections, inflammation, and asthma.” Immunology and Allergy Clinics 39.3 (2019): 403-415. ↩︎
- Bailey, Justin, Claire McCarthy, and Rita Smith. “What is the most effective way to treat recurrent canker sores?.” (2011). ↩︎
- Lussi, Adrian, and Thomas Jaeggi. “Chemical factors.” Dental Erosion 20 (2006): 77-87. ↩︎
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