Sore Throat Remedies to Make You Feel Better Fast

Here are some sore throat remedies to make you feel better fast.

Some home remedies only mask the pain. These solutions can help you get rid of your sore throat.

Having a sore throat can be miserable. Swallowing feels like sandpaper in your throat. Every cough hurts. All you can think about is getting rid of the lump in the back of your throat, and making the pain go away.

To reduce the pain, it is important to understand what is causing the sore throat.

Causes of sore throat:

• Dry air
• Smoking
• Acid reflux
• Nasal drip
• Viral infection
• Flu
• Common cold
• Bacterial infections like Strep

Viral Infections

A viral infection usually comes with other symptoms. Muscle aches and fatigue along with the sore throat.

Bacterial Infections

With a bacterial infection, the pain is usually more focused in the throat and the pain tends to be severe. There may also be intense pain when swallowing combined with a high fever.

Other Causes of a Sore Throat

Smoke, breathing in dry air, or acid reflux usually feels very different from an infection. Usually, patients don’t feel as sick and the pain is not as severe.

Try sipping warm tea and sucking on cough drops or zinc lozenges. They can usually soothe the throat irritation and inflammation that cause discomfort. But some of the home remedies may mask the pain.

Sore Throat Remedies

1. Gargling with Saltwater

Saltwater is an excellent home remedy for a sore throat. It can reduce swelling and reduce inflammation and irritation. It may help to draw out infections or irritants to the surface of the throat. This makes it easier for your body to deal with them.

Dissolve ½ a teaspoon of salt in 8 oz of warm water and gargle with it every hour or so.

2. Drink Cold Liquids

Like icing a sprained ankle, the cool liquid can dull the pain and reduce swelling. Icy liquids can numb the throat and calm inflammation.

3. Suck on ice or a popsicle

Sucking on ice or popsicles can be effective to reduce the inflammation in your throat. Avoid citrus which can be more acidic and may worsen symptoms.

4. Herbal tea

Many herbal teas have positive immune effects. They can help your body fight infection. A tea with echinacea can help boost the immune system. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory powers and may help to get rid of a sore throat. Try adding it to your tea or saltwater gargle.

5. Honey

Honey is a regular ingredient in cough medicine and teas. It has antibacterial properties and coats your throat to reduce irritation. Try adding a tablespoon to warm water or tea. Avoid honey if acid reflux is the problem as it also has acidic properties.

6. Use a humidifier

Dry air irritates the throat and can prolong recovery time. A steamy shower or a humidifier can bring moisture into the air to relieve discomfort. Moisture and warmth help the vocal cords to calm down and decrease swelling. The moisture in the nose may also help to clear our mucus. Make sure the humidifier is clean. If not, it can breed bacteria which could cause flu-like symptoms. It could also exacerbate asthma or allergies.

7. Over the counter pain medication

Pain medication can help relieve the pain from coughing and throat clearing that delays your sore throat from healing.

8. Nasal decongestants

If your nose gets plugged up and prevents you from breathing through your nose, try using an over-the-counter decongestant. Nasal spray or drops can also help to open airways. This can help decrease postnasal drip.

9. Rest your voice

If your sore throat happened after yelling or cheering at a concert or sporting event, you may have sprained your vocal cords. The best treatment is to rest them.

10. Get a new toothbrush

An old toothbrush may even be causing your sore throat. Bacteria collects on the bristles. Any irritated area on the gums can allow these germs into your system. As soon as you feel sick, throw away your toothbrush. Ovoid bacterial throat infections and eliminate spreading the infection. Replace the toothbrush again when you start feeling better, so you don’t re-infect yourself.

11. Avoid allergies

Pollen, molds, dust mites can all cause throat inflammation. Allergies can cause postnasal drip which leads to throat pain. Taking a non-drowsy allergy medication can help.

12. Rest

Being stressed and worn out, your immune system will struggle with recovery. So get rest! Time in bed or away from stressors can help recharge your immune system. Get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.

One extra possibility to help your sore throat is garlic. When it’s crushed garlic releases a compound called allicin that has antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. The best way to take garlic is to chew on a raw clove or take a slice and suck on it for 15 minutes.

When to see a doctor

Strep throat is a painful bacterial infection and usually happens in a very short time. Strep tends to respond well to the appropriate antibiotics.

Sore throats can be caused by so many different things. The symptoms that need to be evaluated by a doctor include:

• Severe prolonged sore throat
• Difficulty breathing, swallowing, or opening mouth
• Joint pain, earache, or lump in the neck
• Rash
• Fever over 101
• Hoarseness for over 2 weeks
• White spots on throat
• Blood in saliva or phlegm

There are many potential causes for a sore throat. While most are benign, some can be more severe if left undiagnosed. Our Colorado ENT physicians have extensive experience that enables us to accurately pinpoint the cause of your problems and offer customized solutions to help you.

Colorado ENT & Allergy is the regional leader in Colorado Springs for ear, nose, throat, and allergy care, providing a full range of the highest-quality, patient-centered services. Please Contact Us Today for an appointment. We’ll be happy to answer all your questions.