This article has been viewed 250,694 times. To create this article, 19 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. I’m a Cleaning Scientist, and Here’s Why You Should Be Using Paper Towels. See more. Natural remedies to get rid of bad breath #1: Warm Salt Water Rinse. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. (Because then you'll really need a doctor.). Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. It’s best to use pure water because tap water often includes chlorine, which could irritate your throat and weaken your immune system. (These effects were recently proven in a clinical study that focused on the effects of salt water.). Other studies point to evidence that saline solutions help fight against sore throat and congestion. This, in turn, helps keep a balanced pH level in your mouth (the bacteria would much prefer a steamy, acidic home), which can help prevent gingivitis. Get it daily. It helps clear out bacteria from parts of your mouth that you can’t reach during brushing or flossing. Add one drop of washing up liquid to the salt water. Oh hi! One sip won't do it: Repeat this method until your cup of salt water is finished. This will dissolve well, and typically is quite pure. Pain caused by canker sores and bleeding gums can also be lessened by a periodic salt water gargle, which is why the trusted parenting site Doctor Sears names it as a go-to remedy. © 2021 Well+Good LLC. Learn more... Gargling is an important step in your oral hygiene routine. And if you have a fever or show symptoms of white mucus spots on your throat or tonsils, you may have an infection requiring antibiotics. You look like someone who loves free workouts, discounts for cult-fave wellness brands, and exclusive Well+Good content. This prevents the ‘alkalizing’ environment that encourages the growth of microbes that cause bad breath. A salt water (saline solution) rinse can prevent the buildup of infectious bacteria in the mouth or throat. Salt water gargles are an easy and natural home remedy for a host of common ailments that may be the root cause of your pain. Pre-mixed mouthwashes of 1% sodium bicarbonate and 1.5% sodium chloride in aqueous solution are marketed, although pharmacists will easily be able to produce such a formulation from the base ingredients when required. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. After a test run of 60 days during flu season, the group of people who used salt water gargle saw a 40 percent decrease in upper respiratory tract infections compare to the other group. Got a cough that just won’t quit? In fact, it's quite easy. Sign up for Well+, our online community of wellness insiders, and unlock your rewards instantly. Gargling water or mouthwash does not fight cavities on its own and should be done with brushing your teeth. Make sure you do not gargle too much water as you might choke. We've been helping billions of people around the world continue to learn, adapt, grow, and thrive for over a decade. For tips on choosing the best gargling solution for your needs, keep scrolling! Last Updated: July 29, 2020 But with the arrival of COVID-19, the stakes are higher than ever. The effect is probably due to salt water’s slight acidity. Some people find gargling difficult or uncomfortable, but you can learn how to gargle safely and easily in the comfort of your own bathroom. This will cause the liquid to move around and coat the back of the mouth. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and gargle. This may take a bit of time to get used to, but when done correctly, the vibrations in the back of your mouth will cause the gargling liquid to move about, almost as if the liquid were boiling. Spit the water back into the cup. A 2005 study by the Mayo Clinic used a test group of 400 people split into two groups. In this case, 91% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. The osmosis effect that helps your throat is also effective at drawing out harmful pathogens on your gum tissues and creating a salt barrier that helps prevent their return. If you're suffering from the flu or a cold with head and chest congestion, a salt water gargle can thin the sore-throat-causing mucus build-up in your respiratory tract and nasal cavity. Our editors independently select these products. "I thought that the basic concept of how-to with illustrations was outstanding. % of people told us that this article helped them. If you want to improve the taste, you could add honey, lemon, peppermint, or garlic. Swish it at the back of the mouth, and gargle. Here are some quick and refreshing recipes. Repeat as often as you like. Thank you. While a pinch of salt may be just what the doctor ordered, be careful not to turn your glass into the Dead Sea: Too much salt can dehydrate the mouth and throat tissues. Stir gently. Children younger than 6 years are unlikely to be able to gargle … It could possibly soothe the inflammation in your throat in a matter of hours. Move your cheeks in and out, and your tongue back and forth, to swish the gargling liquid back and forth in your mouth. What have you got to lose? What is a salt water gargle? The addition of salt to a glass of warm water used as a gargle creates an osmosis effect where the concentration of salt draws fluids from your mouth and throat tissues to relieve a painful infection. reduce the chance of upper respiratory infection. To create this article, 19 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. It can also help get rid of the odor tonsil stones can cause. One study found that people who gargled a simple salt solution three times a day had a 40% decrease in upper respiratory tract infections. To gargle, fill a glass with salt water, mouthwash, or a baking soda and water mixture. A clinical study in Japan also recently showed that using a salt water gargle can reduce the chance of upper respiratory infection by as much as 40 percent. Well+Good decodes and demystifies what it means to live a well life, inside and out. Read our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. Gargling will coat the back of the mouth with whatever liquid you choose, eliminating some bacteria and soothing a sore throat. You can follow this with a small amount of plain warm tap water. ", "Helpful in that gargling reduce bacteria and some congestion! When making salt water to gargle, many different types of salt can be used. Sip a small amount of the solution into your mouth and swish it around the front and sides. Mouthwashes with alcohol tend to be more potent but carry the risk of several adverse side effects, including mouth ulcers, corroded fillings, and even the elevated threat of cancer. Mix the bottled water with the salt in a cup. ", http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16242593, http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/27/gargling-with-salt-water-for-colds/, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/health/28real.html, http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/alcohol-mouthwash-does-it-cause-cancer, http://www.freysmiles.com/blog/view/re-balancing-your-oral-ph, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. It also breaks up thick mucus, which can remove irritants like allergens, bacteria and fungi from the throat, according to Philip T. Hagen, MD, editor in chief of the Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies. How to gargle with salt water Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water (warm water helps salt dissolve). Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 250,694 times. Salt water gargles may seem like an old wives' tale (raise your hand if you first heard about it from Grandma), but there's science to back up its effectiveness. Iodised or non-iodised salt are both fine to use for salt water mouth rinse. Soothe inflammation and prevent infection from returning, For the above reason, salt water gargles can help alleviate throat inflammation caused by seasonal allergies, colds, and sinus infections. For tips on choosing the best gargling solution for your needs, keep scrolling! (And no one wants that.). If your throat is still crying out for help after three days, it's time to see your doctor. One group was asked to gargle salt water three times a day. Salt water neutralizes acids caused by invading bacteria. Find out if these home remedies really help. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. This 15-Minute Neck-and-Shoulder Stretch Relieves Tension in Your Body and Mind, I’m a Dermatologist and These Are the Skin-Care Investment Products That Are Actually Worth It. And you can repeat the whole shebang every four hours until your sore throat subsides. This article has been viewed 250,694 times. After swishing, tilt your head back, and make an “ahh” sound with your throat, making sure that you don't swallow any liquid. According to the Mayo Clinic, to make a salt water gargle, simply stir a quarter to a half teaspoon of table salt or sea salt into a cup of warm or hot water until it is completely dissolved. Take a large sip of the salt water, tilt your head back, and gargle for 30 seconds, then swish the water around your teeth and gums before spitting it out. Cut down on harmful bacteria in the mouth. A quarter to a half teaspoon per cup of water will do the trick. Gargle with the solution, then spit it out (do not swallow it). Video: how to treat a sore throat. Try not to create any bubbles. Sodium bicarbonate is sometimes combined with salt to make a simple homemade mouthwash, indicated for any of the reasons that a salt water mouthwash might be used. Transfer 3 tbsp of the salt water into a separate cup. 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