Is a Salt Water Gargle Comparable to Over-the-Counter Cold Medicine?

Rohan Mathew

Updated on:

Did you recently get a cold now that the cooler weather is here and more people have moved indoors? Is your throat sore and you’ve got a bit of a cough? If so, you might want to bypass all that over-the-counter cold medicine at the local drug store and choose a salt water gargle instead.

There are minor risks from over-the-counter cold medicine that you won’t get from a salt water solution. Yet, a salt water gargle has comparable results to over-the-counter cold medicine. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of a salt water gargle and how it compares to over-the-counter cold medicines.

The Risks of Over-the-Counter Cough Medicine

There are a number of risks or side effects that may occur from an over-the-counter cough or cold medicine, such as:

  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness
  • Nausea
  • Constipation
  • Anxiety or nervousness
  • Constipation
  • Upset stomach
  • Dry mouth or throat

Pain relievers, decongestants, and antihistamines can be given to children above five years of age, but they do come with side effects. You’ll need to read the labels of over-the-counter drugs to ensure you’re not taking too much or giving too much to your child.

There are also some rare and serious side effects that may occur, such as shaking or seizures, problems with urinating, hallucinations or confusion, allergic reactions, and changes in heartbeat, according to WebMD. Call your doctor right away or seek medical help if you have any of these side effects.

A Salt Water Rinse and Over-the-Counter Meds Have Similar Results

A salt water rinse is known to soothe a sore throat. If your throat feels either scratchy or sore, then you can dissolve about half a teaspoon of salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water and gargle with it. The salt water solution can help potentially relieve pain related to a sore throat.

Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen are also known to alleviate pain from a cold. However, children should not take aspirin because it has been linked to a rare but dangerous condition called Reye’s Syndrome.

Along with alleviating pain, over-the-counter cold medicine can temporarily stop coughs and relieve some cold symptoms. Essentially, over-the-counter medication has similar results to a salt water gargle.

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The Benefits of a Salt Water Gargle

Generally, a salt water gargle has many benefits for the average person, such as:

  • Soothes scratchy and sore throats
  • Reduces pain and swelling of sore throats
  • Prevents infection from occurring
  • Reduces the number of bacteria in the mouth/throat
  • Clears the nasal passages
  • Prevents bad breath
  • Boosts gum health and heals mouth sores
  • Accelerates healing after a tooth extraction

Wrap Up

Now that you know the risks of over-the-counter meds and the benefits of salt water solutions, you may want to purchase the Gargle Water Salt Rinse product. This way, you won’t need to worry about how much salt to add, which type of salt to get, or warming any water in a teakettle.

This product already has the perfect salt-to-water ratio and is guaranteed to soothe your sore throat. Get it today!

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