# How do you gargle?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-gargle/510121>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 15, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-gargle/510121 "2009-09-15T01:34:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Standup\_Karmic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@Standup\_Karmic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Standup_Karmic)\
**Post date:** [September 15, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-gargle/510121/1 "2009-09-15T01:34:19Z")

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I have a cold and sore throat. So I’m gargling with salt water, just like my Momma taught me. It makes my throat feel less sore.

I noticed that I make a noise when I gargle. I make a ‘gargling’ noise. Not just the slow release of air from my lungs that make the bubbling, but a vocalization as well. I have also found that I can make the same bubbling occur without the vocalization. I suspect I must have been taught as a child to vocalize when I gargle.

Do you vocalize? Or do you just make the bubbling?

Furthermore, do you make the bubbling at all? I found that I can get the salt water just as deep into my throat by closing my throat and letting the water sit there. Does everyone make gargle-bubbles? Anyone here, as a matter of course, just let the salt water (or mouthwash, or whatever) sit there? Is there any advantage to bubbling the rinse?

These are the many questions I have about gargling.