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.

Here's why: A hypertonic solution has a higher concentration of solutes (in this case, salt) than the cells in the student's mouth. When the cells are exposed to a hypertonic solution, water will move out of the cells to balance the solute concentration, which helps to reduce swelling. This process is called osmosis. Rinsing with a warm saltwater solution can help draw excess fluid out of the swollen tissue, thereby reducing inflammation and swelling.