Oral care12 min
Neem Water Gargle
Boil neem leaves, cool the water until warm, and gargle. Spit it all out. Do not swallow neem water. It is not a treatment for infection.
A neem gargle you do not swallow
Neem is very bitter, and that bitterness is a reason to keep this as a gargle rather than a drink. A short gargle reaches the back of the mouth and is then spat into the sink.
Use a small amount of leaves you can identify. Do not put neem oil in the mouth. Bitter oil is not this recipe and is unsafe to swallow. Fever, throat swelling, or trouble breathing needs urgent care, not another gargle.
Ingredients
- A small handful of neem leaves
- 2 cups water
- Extra water to cool the neem gargle if it is still too warm
How to prepare
- Rinse the neem leaves and simmer them in water for about 8 minutes.
- Strain and cool until warm, never hot enough to burn the mouth.
How to use
- Gargle one mouthful for 15 to 20 seconds and spit it out.
- Repeat once if the taste is bearable, then stop.
- Rinse with plain water afterward and spit that out as well.
Helpful habits
- Gargling at the sink makes it easier not to swallow.
- A very bitter batch can be diluted with warm water. Do not add sugar.
Precautions
- Do not swallow the neem gargle. Spit it out.
- Do not put neem oil in the mouth.
- It does not treat a throat infection or a dental abscess. Seek care if you are unwell.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drink neem water after gargling?
- No. Do not swallow it. Spit the gargle out, then spit the plain-water rinse too.
Is neem oil the same as this gargle?
- No. Do not put neem oil in the mouth. This recipe is only boiled leaves in water.
Will a neem gargle cure a throat infection?
- No. Fever, swelling, or trouble breathing needs urgent care, not more gargling.
