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How To Gargle With Salt Water Effectively

How to Gargle With Salt Water

We use salt and water every day in our lives. Ask any chef or your mother and they will tell you how adding the right amount of salt to a dish is important as it can make or mess up any dish. In kitchen, salt is used not only for seasoning but also for making desserts, smoothies, ice-creams and baking recipes. The use of salt is just not limited to the kitchen alone. Due to the essential therapeutic properties of salt, this mineral is extensively used in preparation of medicines, health drinks and also used in body scrubs and body healing therapies.

Table salt offers a wide range of home remedies from sore throat relief to tooth ache. A simple salt water gargle can provide relief from numerous problems associated with the mouth and throat. Studies reveal that salt water gargle can actually provide relief from various throat and mouth problems.

What is salt water gargle?

The process of salt water gargle involves dissolving salt with luke warm water and gargling for few minutes with this water before rinsing out. There are immense benefits of this easy to follow natural home therapy.

How it can help?

Salt has the ability to soak moisture and promote osmosis. When salt water reaches throat, salt draws moisture from the bacteria. The infectious bacteria suffer dehydration and dies. Salt also sucks moisture from swollen throat tissue to relive pain and swelling. Sodium water cleans bacteria and prevents growth of germs.

How to gargle with salt water?

Step 1: In a glass of luke warm water add 1 tsp of sea salt or table salt. Mix well with a spoon to dissolve the salt completely in water.

Step 2: Take a mouthful of the solution and slightly tilt your head back. Gently blow up air through your throat muscles to initiate gargling keeping the back of your throat muscles tight to avoid swallowing

Step 3: Gargle for around 30 to 60 seconds and spit out the solution. Take a mouthful of fresh solution from the glass to repeat the same process. Repeat the process using the remaining solution from the glass to clear excess mucus and soothe your throat.

Note: The quantity of solution you take in mouth depends upon how comfortably you can gargle without swallowing it.

Home remedies with salt water solution

Method 1 – Salt and lemon

  • In a glass of lukewarm water squeeze juice of half a lemon and add 1 to 2 tsp of rock salt
  • Mix well with a spoon and gargle with this water. The antibacterial properties of salt and lemon helps fight infection causing bacteria. The acidic property of lemon juice cleans mouth and imparts long lasting fresh breath

Method 2 – Use Chloraseptic Sore Throat Salt water 

  • Chloraseptic Sore Throat Salt water is an effective and highly recommended relief for an irritated or dry throat. Chloraseptic Sore Thorat is ready for use and therefore the salt is at the right amount and completely dissolved. It has a minty taste that refreshes your mouth and leaves your throat feeling better after unbearable irritation.

Method 3 – Salt and peppermint

  • Mix 1 tsp sea salt and two drops of peppermint in a glass of lukewarm water
  • This can be used as a refreshing mouthwash to remove bad breath
  • The cooling effect of peppermint soothes sore throat and relieves throat pain

Method 4 – Salt and apple cider vinegar

  • Add 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar and 1 tsp sea salt in a glass of water and mix well with a spoon
  • Both apple cider vinegar and salt combat bacteria that causes sore throat and mouth infection

Method 5 – Table salt and baking soda

  • Add 2tsp table salt and 1 tsp baking soda in a glass of purified water and mix well. This solution is known as hypertonic saline water
  • The solution helps to kill bacteria, discourages fungal and bacterial growth in the throat. Salt loosens phlegm and provides relief from cold

Method 6 – Salt and marshmallow

  • Add one to two drops of marshmallow and 1 tsp salt in a glass of clean water and mix well
  • Gargling with the above water is proven to provide relief from sore throat
  • Marshmallow contains a gel-like substance called as mucilages that coats the entire throat to soothe irritation and relieve pain

Here are some of the important benefits of salt water gargle.

Benefits of salt water gargle

Natural healing: A quick salt water gargle couple of times a day heal various wounds of the mouth such as wounds from any bacterial infection or tooth extraction. Salt acts as a natural disinfectant and kills infection causing bacteria, reduces swelling and accelerates the healing process

Sore throat remedy: Bacteria called streptococcus causes sore throat, throat pain and swelling of the internal throat muscles. Gargling with salt and luke warm water provides an instant relief from sore throat by killing the infectious bacteria.

Maintains pH level: Bacterial infection can disturb the pH level. Gargling with salt water neutralizes the acids in throat and restores the pH level thus minimizing swelling

Relieves nasal congestion: Sinus infection or allergic condition can block the nasal passage and cause breathing difficulty. Salt water gargle helps to fight the infection causing bacteria and relieve nasal congestion

Cleans mouth: Salt water gargle removes any excess mucus from the mouth and enhances the blood flow to the muscles of the throat. It cleanses your mouth and gives you relief.

Fights dental plague: The antibacterial effect of salt water helps to treat bleeding gum, clears excessive mucus, discourages bacteria growth and minimizes dental plague

Promotes fresh breath: The anti-bacterial property of salt kills bacteria that causes bad breath, discourages the growth of bacteria and thus promotes fresh breath

Precautions to be taken during salt water gargle

Though warm water and salt gargle can make your throat feel good, excessive salt can harm musoca hence it is always advised to go for moderate salt water gargling

  • Salt water gargle provides temporary relief. In case of severe problem doctors consultation and medication is required when salt water rinse does not work
  • Take care not to add too much salt in water for gargling as it can dry out the throat membrane
  • Too much of salt water rinse can erode teeth, harm enamel and make your teeth brittle
  • Take care not to swallow the water while gargling and spit out the water completely after every rinse

Salt water gargle when done with care in moderation can prove to be effective in treating throat and mouth infections. Just as any good thing when used in excess can harm, daily salt water gargle can weaken your teeth making them prone to cavities.

How often do you gargle with salt water? Let us know by commenting below.

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