WASHINGTON – Apple cider vinegar has more uses than just salad dressing — it can improve health and help with a host of ailments.

Do you want a whiter smile? Apple cider vinegar can help whiten teeth. Gargle with it before brushing and it removes stains and kills bacteria in your mouth.

Feel a tickle in your throat coming on? The germ-fighting properties of apple cider vinegar also help fight a sore throat. Try gargling every hour with a half and half mixture of apple cider vinegar and warm water.

A collection of remedies from Reader’s Digest also says a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar can help cure hiccups. And to clear up a stuffy nose, try mixing a teaspoon of it with water and drink up to help sinuses drain.

If intestinal issues are caused by a bacterial infection then sipping the vinegar mixed with water might also help with diarrhea. According to the Reader’s Digest list, try sipping a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and honey mixed with water about 30 minutes before you eat to prevent indigestion.

WTOP’s Kristi King contributed to this story. Follow @kingWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.