The term "dry throat" seems to clearly describe the symptom, but it can actually encompass several types of ailments, for example, irritation, itching, pain, difficulty swallowing, altered taste, or a feeling of dust in the throat. Dry throat often results from a disease that is generally not serious, but there are exceptions. Sometimes it can also be caused by adverse environmental factors, dehydration or the habit of breathing with the mouth instead of the nose. By using remedies that treat common symptoms and normalizing conditions that can dry out the mucous membranes in the throat, it is possible to eliminate or at least alleviate the discomfort caused by a dry throat.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Relieve Dry Throat Symptoms
Step 1. Use steam
Exposure to a humid environment allows you to hydrate the mucous membranes of the throat. It's a great excuse to take a long, hot shower whenever you feel the need.
- Alternatively, boil some water in a saucepan. When the water reaches a boil, remove it from the stove, cover your head and shoulders with a towel, and lean your face over the pot to inhale the steam. Before starting, make sure the heat is not excessive.
- You can also purchase a relatively inexpensive room humidifier and place it in a room or near the bed. It is usually more effective than the previous method.
Step 2. Gargle with salt water
Salt kills germs in the mouth and throat, plus it helps relieve dryness and irritation. Gargling with salt a couple of times a day is an effective way to relieve dry throat.
- Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in 250 ml of water.
- Gargle with salt water twice a day, for 30-60 seconds at a time.
- Do not ingest salt water after gargling.
- Some people also find it helpful to use a solution prepared with water and apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon of vinegar per 250ml of water). The taste is not the most pleasant, but it can be an effective remedy.
Step 3. Use honey
Letting a teaspoon of honey melt in your mouth is certainly more pleasant than gargling with salt and vinegar.
Thanks to its thick consistency, honey is able to coat the throat with a protective layer, and in addition, it also has antiseptic properties. No wonder bees love it
Step 4. Suck on a candy to stimulate saliva production
Slowly melt a hard candy or throat lozenge in your mouth, or chew gum, to increase saliva production and lubricate the mucous membranes.
Better to suck on a sugar-free candy so you don't have to go to the dentist
Step 5. Have a hot drink
When they have a sore throat, many people get relief by ingesting a warm liquid. The ideal to relieve the symptoms of dry throat is to drink a herbal tea, perhaps with the addition of honey and lemon.
- Even a simple chamomile can give you relief, but according to some people, ingredients like mint, ginger, cloves, licorice root, echinacea, and red elm offer even greater benefits.
- Consider adding honey or cinnamon to the tea. Both of these substances are believed to possess excellent healing powers.
Method 2 of 2: Treating Diseases That Can Dry Throat
Step 1. Properly hydrate the body
Having a dry throat can indicate that you are not getting enough fluids. Committing to drinking enough, especially plain water, could completely eliminate the disturbance. Remember to sip water or other fluids regularly throughout the day.
- Limit your consumption of alcoholic or caffeinated beverages. Both substances have a dehydrating effect on the body and, despite what the commercials claim, are not suitable for quenching your thirst.
- Some medications can also have a dehydrating effect on the body. Discuss with your doctor whether your dry throat could be caused by the medications you are taking.
Step 2. Avoid smoke and other substances harmful to the respiratory tract
Smoking is a harmful choice for countless reasons and, in addition to the rest, it can dry out your throat. The same goes for other substances that irritate the respiratory system, such as dust and smog. If you have a dry throat, but not only that, do what you can to limit exposure to pollutants that can make it sore.
Step 3. Correct your breathing
If you have a habit of mouth breathing, not only do you expose your throat to the dry outside air, but you prevent the breath from passing through the typically humid environment inside the nose. This is one of the reasons why your throat often gets dry when you have a stuffy nose from a cold.
If you notice that your throat is particularly dry upon waking, you may have been breathing through your mouth while you sleep, a potential indicator that you have obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Step 4. There is a possibility that you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease
Rising gastric juices from the stomach into the esophagus can irritate the throat to various degrees, including making it dry. Again, if the disorder occurs mainly upon waking, the cause could be gastroesophageal reflux disease.
If you suffer from reflux at night, you can try the following solutions: limit your intake of acid-producing foods during dinner, use a tall pillow or two pillows to keep your head elevated, elevate the headboard using shims, or consult your pharmacist or doctor to take over-the-counter or prescription medications to help eliminate the disorder
Step 5. Solve the dry air problem with a humidifier
Cold air retains less moisture so, especially in the winter months when the radiators make it even drier, it is easy for the air inside the house to become extremely dry. As a result, the throat also tends to dry out. The slight mist of water released by the humidifier can relieve a dry throat by moisturizing the mucous membranes.
You can take advantage of this excuse to book a long vacation in a destination with a warm and tropical climate during the winter
Step 6. Exclude the most serious illnesses
Often when it is caused by a pathology, dry throat is the result of an annoying disorder, but generally not serious, it is the case for example of an allergy or a common flu. However, in cases where a more serious illness is present, a dry or sore throat can be an early symptom.
- Dry throat can indicate the presence of pharyngitis, mononucleosis, tonsillitis, cancer of the throat or esophagus or (in even rarer cases, but even more terrible) of the Ebola virus.
- If your dry throat is accompanied by fever and aches, see your doctor to rule out the possibility that it is a serious infection.
