I just got my wisdom tooth out yesterday and was told to do saltwater rinses 4 times a day to keep it clean, how does saltwater work to clean and sterilize?
In: Chemistry
Its not sterilizing. It is helping you clean the area, basically just by mechanical action. Removing coagulated blood, dead cells, bacterial biofilms, etc. Making it be a less hospital environment for anaerobic bacteria.
Salt water in the right concentration (isotonic) is actually gentler on wounds than pure water is.
Salt water kills bacteria, or at least slows their growth.
If you have a sore throat, the best thing to do is gargle warm salt water. It might burn, but that means it’s working.
I’m sure someone will give a scientific answer, and I’m probably wrong, but I think the saltwater causes the cell to lose water by osmosis, killing it.
Latest Answers