Kelvin got his wisdom teeth removed and his mouth is swollen. His doctor tells him to rinse his mouth with a warm saltwater solution every few hours. How does the saltwater solution help heal Kelvin's mouth? a The salt water is a hypertonic solution, and the swollen cells in Devin's mouth will take in water through diffusion. b The salt water is a hypertonic solution, and the swollen cells in Devin's mouth will release water through osmosis. c The salt water is a hypotonic solution, and the swollen cells in Devin's mouth will take in water through osmosis. d The salt water is a hypotonic solution, and the swollen cells in Devin's mouth will release water through diffusion.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: b. The salt water is a hypertonic solution, and the swollen cells in Devin's mouth will release water through osmosis.

When a saltwater solution is used as a rinse, it is hypertonic relative to the bodily fluids in the swollen cells. This means that the concentration of salt (solutes) is higher in the saltwater solution than in the fluid inside the cells. As a result, water moves out of the swollen cells into the saltwater solution (to balance the concentration of solutes), which helps reduce swelling and promotes healing.