Gargling

Gargling

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 infectionFact|date=August 2008.

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 teaFact|date=August 2008. 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 vinegarFact|date=August 2008. 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 osmosisFact|date=August 2008.

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

* [http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?gargle Gargle] at the Centre for Cancer Education, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Accessed July 2007


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Gargling — Gargle Gar gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Garggled}, p. pr. & vb. n. {Gargling} (?).] [F. gargouiller to dabble, paddle, gargle. Cf. {Gargoyle}, {Gurgle}.] 1. To wash or rinse, as the mouth or throat, particular the latter, agitating the liquid (water …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gargling — gar·gle || gÉ‘rgl / gɑːgl n. gurgling sound; mouthwash, liquid used for gargling v. gurgle, make a gargling noise; rinse out the mouth with mouthwash …   English contemporary dictionary

  • gargling fluid — noun Mouthwash. A teaspoonful of table salt added to a pint of warm, not hot, water makes a good gargling fluid …   Wiktionary

  • gargling — noun ( s) Etymology: from gerund of gargle (I) : liquid gargled by a patient and then subjected to laboratory analysis usually used in plural …   Useful english dictionary

  • gargle — I. verb (gargled; gargling) Etymology: Middle French gargouiller, of imitative origin Date: 1527 transitive verb 1. a. to hold (a liquid) in the mouth or throat and agitate with air from the lungs b. to cleanse or disinfect (the oral cavity) in… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • gargle — gargler, n. /gahr geuhl/, v., gargled, gargling, n. v.i. 1. to wash or rinse the throat or mouth with a liquid held in the throat and kept in motion by a stream of air from the lungs. v.t. 2. to gargle (the throat or mouth). 3. to utter with a… …   Universalium

  • gargle — [gär′gəl] vt., vi. gargled, gargling [Fr gargouiller < gargouille, throat, waterspout, gargoyle < echoic base * garg > Gr gargarizein, to gargle, Sans gharghara h, gurgling] 1. to rinse or wash (the throat) with a liquid kept in motion… …   English World dictionary

  • gargle — 1. verb /ˈɡɑrɡəl/ a) to clean ones mouth by holding water or some other liquid in the back of the mouth and blowing air out from the lungs She hated the poisoned feeling in her throat, and no matter how often she gargled she felt unclean and… …   Wiktionary

  • gargle — 1. To rinse the fauces with fluid in the mouth through which expired breath is forced to produce a bubbling effect while the head is held far back. 2. A medicated fluid used for gargling; a throat wash. [O. Fr. fr. L. gurgulio …   Medical dictionary

  • gargle — [[t]gɑ͟ː(r)g(ə)l[/t]] gargles, gargling, gargled 1) VERB If you gargle, you wash your mouth and throat by filling your mouth with a liquid, tipping your head back and using your throat to blow bubbles through the liquid, and finally spitting it… …   English dictionary

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