Salt rinse

Saline solution mouthwash From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Salt rinse is a saline solution mouthwash used in dentistry to treat certain diseases and reduce post-operative pain and infection. It is also offered commercially for routine oral hygiene.[1] Other names for the treatment include salt water mouthwash,[2] salt water mouth bath,[3] and saline mouth rinse.[4]

Preparation and Use

There appears to be no standard for preparation and use of a salt rinse in dentistry.

Solution. Descriptions of the solution mixture include “one level teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water,”[4] "about 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) of salt in 1 cup (237 milliliters) of warm water,"[5] “one teaspoonful of common salt in a domestic tumbler.”[6] and 0.5–1 teaspoon of table salt into a cup of water.[7][8][9]

Temperature. "Warm,"[4] "hot,”[2] and "a temperature as would be taken for a fresh cup of tea" (producing a solution roughly isotonic with body tissues).[6]

Duration. "Gargle,"[4] "swish",[5] "rinse ... for 30 seconds,[1]" and "retain each mouthful ... around the area in question for as long as it remains hot and to repeat until the entire tumblerful has been used."[3]

Frequency. "6 times daily for 1 week, before and after every meal" (for prevention of alveolar osteitis),[4] twice a day (general use),[1] and "two or three times a day" (for the treatment of oral thrush).[10]

Efficacy

A 2017 review of the literature found no objective study regarding the efficacy of a warm salt solution for oral care.[11][12] However, a 2015 experiment reported positive results in preventing alveolar osteitis (also called "dry socket").[4] While research has shown that chlorhexidine is more effective than a saline solution,[11] where access to pharmaceuticals is limited a salt solution has the benefit of being less expensive, more readily available, and easy to produce.[4]

A small study of a commercial sea salt rinse used for routine oral hygiene found no significant benefit in fighting plaque or gingivitis.[1]

Gargling with salt water has been shown to reduce the incidence of upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold.[13]

Mechanism

The mechanism of salt rinse benefits, if any, remains a mystery. One hypothesis suggests the hypertonic nature of the saline solution draws out bacterial intracellular fluid by way of plasmolysis. Another that warmth induces vasodilatation, which activates phagocytes.[4][11][6]

References


  • Brown A (August 2018). "When is wound cleansing necessary and what solution should be used?". Nursing Times. 114 (9): 42–45. Retrieved December 25, 2020.

Notes

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