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Gargling is the act in which one bubbles a liquid in his or her mouth. It usually requires that the person tilts his or her head back, allowing a mouthful of liquid to sit in the upper throat. The head can be tilted either by extending the neck or back, depending on what is comfortable for the gargler. Air is then expelled from the lungs, causing the liquid to bubble and undulate throughout the throat and mouth region.
As gargling can be done repetitively with the same liquid for greater periods than a person's lung capacity allows, one temporarily tilts the head forward to be able to breathe in again easily, as the liquid travels to the front of the mouth. Breathing in can be done through the mouth for people who are sick, this requires a lesser amount of liquid so that it does not spill out when the mouth is opened for inhaling.
It is a common method of cleansing the throat, especially if one has a sore throat or upper-respiratory virus or infectioncitation needed.
Gargling done for medicinal purposes (or for cleaning your throat) may be done with various substances. One commonly used way is with herbal tea or teacitation needed. There are also many specific medicines designed to be used, either readily available at a supermarket or drug store or requiring a prescription from a licensed medical doctor. Home remedies for gargling include a hypertonic saline solution of table salt (ratio of solid to liquid varies) and various types of vinegarcitation needed. Gargling with a solution of table salt is known to provide relief for a sore throat because as a natural dehydrator, salt draws water from the inflammations in the throat by osmosiscitation needed.
Antiseptic mouthwash can be also gargled to remove bacteria from the throat.
According to modern western etiquette, gargling is a fairly impolite activity during a social occasion or mealtime. It is typically performed in a bathroom at a sink so the refused liquid may be disposed of properly.
References
- Gargle at the Centre for Cancer Education, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Accessed July 2007
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- This page was last modified on 21 September 2008, at 20:42.
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