Does gargling with salt water help a sore throat?

ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jen Ashton answers your health questions and shares her daily prescription for wellness.

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[humanfairy]

This sounds crazy but in college, I had a really bad sore throat. The check-in nurse gave me a cup of ramen, orange juice and told me to go home and take ibuprofen and literally…I felt better the next day. I couldn’t believe it.

[mrRambleGamble]

We're these the two hosts that were breaking one anothers' news and giving each other headlines?

[T-Rando]

As someone who just coughed out some phlegm, trust me. It works. I'm trying this from now on.

[falastinefreedom]

I got a terrible strep throat from my niece and these last two days it’s hurt to speak and to swallow even water. I rinsed with salt water now and I notice a huge difference. I was taking sleeve and it really didn’t do anything plus it was uncomfortable because I had to swallow it with water and swallowing is painful. Salt water is a great way of healing so much about the oral health

[garyofnyc]

I know Dr. Ashton's mom. She is a lovely person.

[devaughnabraham]

We in belize have been doing this for years you can even add some vinegar and gargle it will surely work. 😭

[LoveLupe]

I got my teeth pulled and was told to take a round of antibiotics. Hence, i don't do antibiotics so i gargled with warm salt water 3 times a day and by the end of the week my mouth was healed and got a tooth implant.

[Windshieldchoke]

Had a cut in my mouth from biting my lip, was extremely painful because it was in the spot where my tooth kept hooking it every time I’d chew food, or inhale my vape, would not go away because everyday I’d bite it again at least twice, it was super painful I swooshed salt water for one day and I kid you not, gone the next morning, had healed itself over night. Salt water is better than antibiotics when it comes to healing the mouth.

[repalda]

I have soar throat for 3 weeks and i try to gargle with just a tap of water and after that it reduce the soar throat but every 1hr pass my throat is getring better and better

[CraXxy]

For me gargling does anything but increases the discomfort💀

[caterina]

This is helping my sore throat along with my nasal congestion mucus and phlegm😊😊😊😊😊

[caterina]

Try Chinese pressure points
Its sure helps me😊

[Fallacy]

No one ever explains why don't swallow the salt water though

[seanbovaird]

Is it just me or are her eyes really dark😮

[hulaguhanozturk]

Russians mix salt and carbonate with warm water, and gargle it & spit it out. It completely heals sore throat