A student had their wisdom teeth removed, and their mouth is swollen. Their doctor tells them to rinse their mouth with a warm saltwater solution every few hours. How does the saltwater solution help reduce the swelling in the student's mouth?

Question

A.
The salt water is a hypotonic solution, and the swollen cells in the student's mouth will take in water through osmosis.

B.
The salt water is a hypotonic solution, and the swollen cells in the student's mouth will release water through diffusion.

C.
The salt water is a hypertonic solution, and the swollen cells in the student's mouth will take in water through diffusion.

D.
The salt water is a hypertonic solution, and the swollen cells in the student's mouth will release water through osmosis

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

D. The salt water is a hypertonic solution, and the swollen cells in the student's mouth will release water through osmosis.

When the student rinses their mouth with a warm saltwater solution, the higher concentration of salt in the solution compared to the fluid within the swollen cells creates a hypertonic environment. This causes water to move out of the swollen cells through osmosis, helping to reduce the swelling in the mouth.