Health benefits of saltwater rinses
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, mouthwashes contain a high level of alcohol which can lead to irritation in the mouth, especially your gums. Saltwater rinses are safer and cheaper methods. They help kill bacteria and freshen your mouth. Asides from helping stop bacterial growth, saltwater rinses also help with other things. They enhance fast and safe recovery after dental procedures and help remove plaque in the mouth. They also help prevent the growth of bacteria in the mouth, by making the environment less acidic and more dangerous for bacteria to live. According to research, saltwater rinses can be used with routine plaque control to effectively reduce the oral microbial count and dental plaque [1].
Your healthcare provider will recommend using saltwater rinses to help you heal after a dental procedure. This is because it enhances the migration of gingival fibroblast migration [2], and increases the number of extracellular matrix components which help control wound repair activities. According to experts, the salt water does not irritate the soft tissues in the mouth and it can not result in mouth pain or burns.
You can also use salt water rinses to stop dry sockets (alveolar osteitis) that happen after extractions.
Respiratory health benefits
According to research, saline water gargling and nasal irrigation [3] can be used to prevent or treat common colds. Studies also show that saline water gargling can be used to treat respiratory infections for an average of 2 days.
Doctors recommend Saltwater rinses to provide safe and potent intervention for people that have COVID-19 [4] after getting the SARS-CoV-2 virus.