01/18/2022
76 076
12 minutes
Co-author, editor and medical expert – Maksimov Alexander Alekseevich.
During seasonal epidemics, our body is susceptible to attack by many pathogens. Such diseases may be accompanied by a sore throat. Its common cause is tonsillitis - acute, predominantly bacterial inflammation of the tonsils or exacerbation of an existing infectious process. In the vast majority of cases, acute tonsillitis has a viral etiology. In second place in the number of causes of throat diseases are streptococci of various types. Viruses weaken the body's defenses by suppressing the ability of human immune cells to neutralize and absorb infectious agents. Damaged epithelial villi cannot cope with their function, creating conditions for mucus stagnation. The walls of the pharynx become swollen, hyperemic, and purulent films may form on their surface. The patient experiences pain when swallowing, cough, and general malaise.
An important component of complex treatment is gargling. This method allows you to mechanically clean the mucous membrane of microbial bodies, viruses, their waste products, pus, and moisturize the epithelium of the pharynx.
Depending on the composition of the rinse solution, an anti-inflammatory or antiseptic effect is realized and the intensity of pain is reduced. It is important to remember that rinsing alone may not be enough; more effective treatment includes a set of measures.
In this article we will look at the principles of local therapy.
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Is it possible to gargle with salt?
Rinse is used for sore throat, runny nose, otitis, various pathologies of the ENT organs: acute and chronic tonsillitis, purulent processes in the tonsils, pharyngitis.
At certain concentrations, the salt solution has different therapeutic effects.
Hypertonic dilution of sodium chloride (osmotic pressure is greater than that in the tissues) relieves swelling, reducing sore throat, has antimicrobial activity, thins thick mucus, pus, and helps restore the draining function of the tonsils.
A saline solution with a salt concentration of 0.9% mechanically cleanses the walls of the pharynx from bacteria, viruses, dead cells, and moisturizes the mucous membrane of the oropharynx1.
To reduce the risk of infection, it is advisable to irrigate the nasal cavity and oropharynx after visiting crowded places or communicating with a sick person.
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How often should you gargle with salt?
Before taking independent measures to combat the infection, consult a specialist. Only a doctor can make the correct diagnosis and prescribe the right medications. Recovery depends on adherence to the regimen, the correct selection of medications and therapies.
You should gargle with a salt solution 3-4 times a day, for up to 5 days in a row (the duration of treatment in each case is determined individually). But since table salt is not a medicine, treatment with proven antiseptics is necessary (for example, Hexoral ® rinse solution or Hexoral ® spray, chlorhexidine, and others).
Many patients ask the question: “Which salt is best”?
We do not recommend non-scientific methods for treatment, as there is no evidence of their effectiveness. For gargling and irrigating the throat, there are specialized sprays with sea water, which are sold in pharmacies.
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Can pregnant and lactating women use it?
It is not advisable for expectant mothers and women during lactation to resort to rinsing. The procedure is prohibited in the early stages and in the presence of allergic reactions to iodine.
During the rest of pregnancy, it is allowed to prepare the medicine as necessary. To do this, take half as much baking soda and salt as required and 1-2 drops of iodine per glass of water. Gargle for a week in the morning and evening.
Salt solution for gargling - proportions
As a rule, adults are recommended to use 1 teaspoon of salt per 200 ml of boiled water. If there are no contraindications, take iodized salt.
In order not to harm your health, it is better to use medications with proven effects. A salt concentration of more than 10% can damage the mucous membrane of the throat, and undissolved crystals can cause soreness and soreness in the throat, scratching the epithelium and delaying recovery.
We recommend certified pharmacy products for treatment, as they have undergone clinical trials and are safe and effective medicines.
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How to gargle with salt correctly?
We recommend using only certified solutions that are medicinal, such as Hexoral ®, chlorhexidine, and other antiseptics.
To treat a sore throat safely and effectively, you need to follow some rinsing rules:
- The procedure is carried out after eating.
- Any rinse solution must be fresh every time.
- The patient takes a sip into his mouth and rinses his tonsils for 10 seconds. The duration of the procedure is 3-5 minutes. Such approaches are required 4-5 daily.
- You should tilt your head back for more effective treatment of the tonsils.
- Try to avoid swallowing the product.
- Rinsing as a method of treatment is contraindicated for children under 3 years of age, since due to their age, they will not perform the required actions and may choke or drink the solution.
- You should not drink or eat for an hour after completing the procedure.
Many sources recommend rinsing with salt and soda, iodine, etc. You should not do this for safety reasons, as you can get a burn to the soft tissue of the throat.
Currently, more effective drugs are available for the treatment of tonsillitis, one of which is Hexoral ® rinse solution, as well as other agents for local therapy. When using medications, the likelihood of recovery increases.
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What are the benefits of soda-salt solution for mouth rinsing?
The product is widely used for rinsing during the treatment of diseases of the teeth and gums: caries, gingivitis, periodontitis and periodontal disease. The solution helps out in cases where acute symptoms arise suddenly and you need to alleviate the condition before visiting the dentist. The soda-salt composition perfectly relieves inflammation and redness of the mucous membrane, disinfects, has a calming effect and helps to slightly reduce pain.
Sodium bicarbonate or simply soda is a product that is used to clean dirty surfaces, for example, in the kitchen. But a solution with its addition also helps in the treatment of many dental diseases. In combination with salt and sometimes with iodine, soda gives a pronounced antibacterial effect, strengthens hard and soft tissues, and prevents the further spread of the pathological process. Thus, the effect of the composition can be formulated in several main theses:
- has an antibacterial effect,
- helps stop the pathological process and prevents further destruction of the enamel,
- stops inflammatory processes in the mucous membrane,
- helps to significantly reduce pain and alleviate the condition,
- removes bacterial plaque and tartar.
Soda-saline solution helps in the treatment of many dental diseases.
Soda-saline solution is not suitable for daily use. It is recommended in cases where there are clear signs of pathological processes in the oral cavity. The composition can be used for emergency relief of acute symptoms, and as a maintenance agent - only after agreement with the attending physician.
Rinse during pregnancy
The expectant mother's body is quite vulnerable to various types of infections. Some immunosuppression occurs to ensure that the fetus has the opportunity to develop normally in the mother's body. However, recently there has been evidence that during the gravidar period, some parts of the immune system, on the contrary, are strengthened. There is an “Immunological paradox” of pregnancy. In response to the action of endotoxins from various bacteria, a woman’s body releases a large number of pro-inflammatory cytokines (a class of substances involved in the implementation of the most important physiological reactions of the body).
Based on this, we can conclude that the specific immune response is suppressed, and the nonspecific, on the contrary, is enhanced.
If you feel a sore throat, you should immediately seek medical help. The doctor will be able to choose effective, and most importantly safe, treatment.
Gargling during pregnancy will not harm2. The liquid promotes mechanical cleansing of the tonsils from dead cells, bacteria, and pus. But remember that rinsing is only part of the therapy. Comprehensive and complete treatment should be prescribed by a doctor, because the expectant mother must take care not only of her health, but also of the condition of her child.
Note!
If the condition remains unchanged during the day or the sore throat intensifies, you should consult a specialist.
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Contraindications for use
Gargling with a triple composition is contraindicated for diseases of the digestive tract, cardiovascular system, and for women during the period of bearing a child in the first trimester of pregnancy.
The procedure is also prohibited in case of individual intolerance and gag reflex to individual components.
In children, the use of the medicinal solution is contraindicated until 3 years of age.
In addition, increased iodine content in the body, high temperature and kidney pathologies also prohibit manipulation.
Gargling with salt for children
We recommend only special pharmaceutical rinsing solutions and seawater sprays for use by children, as their effectiveness and safety have been confirmed by clinical trials.
First you need to make sure that the child has the necessary skill. The procedure is allowed for children aged 4-5 years. For small children, rinsing is not suitable, since the risk of swallowing the solution cannot be excluded; the child may choke or attempts will be ineffective.
It is important to follow the rinsing rules so as not to harm the baby.
- Rinse should be done after eating.
- Irrigation of the pharynx should be systemic, over several days (the dose of the drug, the duration of treatment should be determined by the doctor)
- If possible, swallowing the medication should be avoided.
- It is important to follow the correct technique (with the head thrown back to clear the throat more thoroughly)
- After completing the procedure, do not eat or drink for one hour.
Solutions prepared independently at home may be ineffective or harmful. Salt crystals that are not dissolved in water can damage the epithelium and increase pain.
This is useful to know
: Often in children the clinical picture of the disease differs from that in an adult.
Due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the pharynx, tonsillitis and laryngitis in young children can be complicated by acute stenosis of the larynx.
And in this case, you can’t hesitate. The glottis narrows and breathing is sharply limited, sometimes this develops at lightning speed and requires emergency medical attention4. Up to contents
Gargling with salt for a sore throat
Its purpose is to mechanically clean the pharynx and tonsils of pathogenic microorganisms, pus, dead epithelial cells and mucus. Salt rinsing is most effective for bacterial forms of sore throat. It must be remembered that treatment with home remedies alone may not be enough. You should not delay visiting a doctor, as it is important to correctly determine the diagnosis and begin complex therapy.
Even with regular gargling with salt, it is not possible to eliminate all pathogenic microorganisms. To eradicate (completely destroy) pathogenic microbes, one should resort to drugs that act on the cause of the disease and break the chain of disease development, i.e. medications that can destroy infectious agents - antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, and others5.
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The therapeutic effect of rinsing
Gargling with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in proportion with iodine eliminates discomfort, relieves pain, and soothes the throat.
Maintain hygiene of the pharynx and oral cavity, thereby complicating the penetration of infection, especially with weakened immunity.
Rinsing with a bicarbonate solution removes bacteria from the gums and surfaces of the teeth; their excess causes stomatitis, periodontitis, and caries. Prevent the formation of ulcers and promote their healing during stomatitis.
Rinsing with a solution of soda in proportion with iodine relieves the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections - colds, flu, an effective preventive measure.
A solution of soda and iodine when rinsed does not destroy the entire infection. Some of it washes onto the surface of the gums and teeth. When you spit out the used solution, the infection leaves the oral cavity.
