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How to Get Rid of a Dry Sore Throat

A man and woman drink tea to soothe their dry throats.

When the weather is cold and dry, or if you ever sleep with your mouth open, you may find yourself with an uncomfortably dry throat. No one likes this feeling, so today we're going to discuss ways of treating a dry throat.

What causes a dry throat?

In order to properly treat your throat, you have to first know the cause. Along with dry air or breathing through your mouth, dry or itching throats can be caused by caffeine and alcohol consumption, smoking, allergies, acid reflux, certain medications, and other medical conditions.

What are some ways to treat a dry throat?

Some common methods for treating this condition include:

Keep your throat hydrated

Keeping your throat hydrated and lubricated is the best way to keep it from getting dry and sore. If you have a humidifier, run it regularly. Drink plenty of fluids each day, too. In particular, try to drink at least 8 to 10 cups of water a day. If you wake up in the morning with a dry throat, the steam from a hot shower could help hydrate and lubricate your throat.

Soothe your throat

Drink warm liquids, like tea with honey. Not only will the tea soothe your throat, but honey has strong antibacterial effects and helps treat coughs, which is useful if your dry throat is related to a cough. If it's lunchtime, a simple soup may help ease any dryness.

Use a lozenge

Sucking on throat lozenges increases saliva production, which reduces dryness and coats the throat. This, in turn, cuts down on pain and itchiness.

Gargle

Gargling with salt water can help because salt can help draw moisture from surrounding tissue, which in turn can lubricate your throat.

Breathe easier

If you have a blocked nose and are sleeping with your mouth open, or you have postnasal drip that's running down the back of your throat, treating your nasal issues can help with your dry throat. Blowing your nose or using a nasal spray can help clear your nasal passages.

Practice avoidance

If your symptom is caused by caffeine or alcohol, cut down on both, especially before bed. If you smoke, quit. If you have dust allergies keep your house, especially your air ducts, clean. If you have pollen allergies, keep your windows closed and your house as pollen-free as possible.

ENT doctor Stephen Clyne, MD

"If you develop dry throat and feel that you are not improving with adequate hydration and avoidance of alcohol and caffeine and smoking, you should consult your primary care physician," CEENTA ENT doctor Stephen Clyne, MD, said. "They may end up sending you to an otolaryngologist for further testing and treatment."

This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your physician. Dr. Clyne practices in our Pineville office. To make an appointment with him or any of our ENT doctors, call 704-295-3000. You can also schedule an appointment online or through myCEENTAchart.

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How to Get Rid of a Dry Sore Throat

Source: https://www.ceenta.com/news-blog/6-ways-to-treat-a-dry-throat