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 saltwater solution, the salt creates a hypertonic environment outside the swollen cells. This causes water to move out of the cells through osmosis, which can help reduce swelling and draw excess fluid away from the inflamed tissue.