Is it safe to gargle with some hydrogen peroxide and water?!


Question: I have a pretty bad infection. Slight congestion, swollen glands in my neck, and pus-covered, swollen tonsils. I went to the doctor today and I found out that it's not strep, but just a nasty infection.

The doctor said it was okay to gargle with salt water, but is it also okay to use diluted hydrogen peroxide?


Answers: I have a pretty bad infection. Slight congestion, swollen glands in my neck, and pus-covered, swollen tonsils. I went to the doctor today and I found out that it's not strep, but just a nasty infection.

The doctor said it was okay to gargle with salt water, but is it also okay to use diluted hydrogen peroxide?

Under normal conditions gargling with Hydrogen Peroxide would be a safe oral cleaning agent, BUT because your mouth is already infected and raw I do not recommend it. The mouth uses a delicate balance of good bacteria and bad just like other parts of the body. If you use to much of a cleaning agent you could end up with thrush. If you are looking for relief try a NON-Alcohol based Anti-Bacterial mouthwash which is sold at most drug stores for about 6-12 dollars. Gargle with this around 3-4 times a day especially after meals. If you are still not seeing relief, I would go see an ENT ( Ear, Nose, and Throat) specialist. Also look at something called Gentle Violet it is sold at the drug store and it taste horrible but it does help. Yogurt is also a good way to restore pro-biotic bacteria to the mouth and body. Try a warm washcloth on your glands to help reduce the pain.


Feel Better

Robyn

Yes, but it tastes really, really bad.

When I had a really bad sore throat, my doctor told my to gargle with 1 part peroxide, 1 part water, and 1 part listerine.
I couldn't get past the taste for gagging. But it is safe. I would stick to listerine or salt water.

You can safely gargle with diluted hydrogen peroxide. You can also do as the Dr. suggests and gargle with warm salt water. Do this at least 5-6 times a day for the first 2 - 3 days.Just a small amount of salt in a juice glass of water is all it takes. It will make your throat feel better and wash away some of the infection.

For a short period of time it would be okay. Long term use can cause a nasty situation of black hair growing on your tongue. It would be best if you gargled with the salt water and Listerine alternately. Listerine is great for throat infections.





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