Comparison of the efficacy between oral rinse, oral gargle, and oral spray

Patients with sore throats are often treated with oral gargles or oral sprays. Some may rinse instead of gargle, leading to unsatisfactory outcome. The authors studied the efficacy of oral rinses, gargles, and sprays and the effect of Friedman palate position on the outcome.

Ten subjects used specially prepared solutions to rinse, gargle, and then spray their oral cavities at 2-hour intervals. The blue dye indicated the areas stained by the solution, which were scored.

Although there was no difference in reaching the oropharynx between the gargles and sprays, they were both better than were the oral rinses (P < .001). The difference in Friedman palate position did not have an effect on the efficacy of the different modalities.

Oral gargles and sprays have been shown to be significantly better than are oral rinses if the oropharynx is the targeted site, and the size of the oral airway does not impede their efficacy.