Gargle For Throat Health
For colds that involve the throat, gargling with baking soda and water is an excellent natural remedy; they are practical, effective, help disinfect and relieve pain.
A useful oral hygiene technique is gargle which is performed by tilting the head back slightly, sliding the solution towards the back of the throat and making it gurgle. They are usually made to clean the pharynx area.
Gargling also brings other benefits:
- They remove dental plaque.
- Freshen the breath.
- They relieve cold symptoms.
- They relieve sore throats.
In this article we will talk about some properties of baking soda, especially when used as an oral rinse to keep the throat clean and healthy.
Sodium bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is a salt derived from carbonic acid (chemical formula NaHCO3); contributes to the acid-base balance of our body.
- It is effective against bad odors.
- It is useful for cleaning dishes and kitchen utensils.
- It is ideal for cleaning surfaces.
- It can be used against stains.
- This is a great way to clean fruit and vegetables.
- It is a good exfoliant for the face and hands.
- It is an important ingredient in face and hair masks.
- It is useful for cleaning brushes and make-up brushes.
- It is antacid.
- It can be used to combat the presence of parasites.
In addition to cleaning and whitening the teeth, it takes care of the health of the throat.
Gargling to relieve a sore throat
At the time of year when the temperature drops, it is common to encounter colds, the most important symptoms of which are nasal congestion and sore throat.
You will certainly have contracted a cold and at the same time feel the back of the throat “scrape”, making it difficult to ingest solid or liquid food.
A good way to remedy the feeling of discomfort is to gargle with baking soda and water.
A simple, inexpensive and effective remedy is the following:
Ingredients
- 1 cup of warm water
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
How you do it?
- In a cup of warm water pour a teaspoon of baking soda; mix carefully until completely dissolved.
- In small sips bring the solution to the bottom of the throat, as much as possible; perform a series of gargles for about half a minute.
- Finish by spitting out the liquid; repeat the same procedure until all the contents of the cup are finished.
The effects of baking soda dissolved in water (which doesn’t have to be cold but not hot) will help fight throat inflammation by clearing the area of germs, bacteria and mucus.
This will not only relieve a sore throat, but will help the tissues heal faster. Repeat the procedure two to three times a day, until the disorder disappears.
Another option is to use lemon juice. Recall that it is a citrus fruit with antibacterial properties and its juice helps to clean and disinfect the throat, as well as relieve the pain of ailments such as tonsillitis.
Ingredients
- The juice of one lemon
- Half a glass of water
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
How you do it?
- Add the baking soda and lemon juice to the glass of water, mix them thoroughly.
- Drink without swallowing, keeping the solution in the back of the throat; perform a series of gargles for about half a minute.
- Spit out the solution. Repeat the treatment three to five times a day.
The combination of baking soda and lemon is ideal: it relieves a sore throat and keeps the breath fresh.
Precautions in the use of baking soda
We must never forget that sodium bicarbonate can also have side effects on our body, especially if ingested.
The side effects of baking soda are unlikely, but it is always useful to know them:
- nausea
- He retched
- stomach ache
- flatulence
- muscle weakness
- anxiety
- respiratory difficulties
It is therefore important, if you want to ingest it, to consult your doctor who will indicate the quantity and the most suitable use for your case.
