Do I Gargle Warm Salt Water?

In addition to soothing a sore throat, gargling with warm salt water helps relieve toothache symptoms as well. And minus the salt, regular gargling of plain water may help prevent upper respiratory tract infections, according to research. We find that advice easy to swallow.

Does salt water need to be warm to gargle?

The water may be best warm, since warmth can be more relieving to a sore throat than cold. It's also generally more pleasant. But if you prefer cold water, it won't interfere with the remedy's effectiveness. Warm water may also help the salt dissolve into the water more easily.

Does gargling with salt water kill bacteria?

“Saltwater rinses kill many types of bacteria via osmosis, which removes the water from the bacteria,” Kammer says. “They're also good guards against infection, especially after procedures.”