While the term dry throat may seem obvious, it can refer to any type of discomfort, such as irritation or itching, which can cause pain in the throat, difficulty swallowing, decreased appetite, or a feeling of dust in the back of the throat. A dry throat is usually caused by a medical condition, mild and not serious, but it can also be a result of environmental factors, dehydration, mouth breathing, etc. By using several treatments to manage common symptoms as well as improve conditions that can dry out the mucous membranes, dry throat can be effectively treated or at least improved.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Relieve Dry Throat Symptoms
Step 1. Use steam
As with the use of a humidifier (humidifier), a steamy environment will bring moisture to dry mucous membranes. Take advantage of this fact to linger in a steamy warm shower from time to time.
- Another way is to boil a pot of water, then remove it from the heat, cover your head with a towel, and tilt your face toward the steaming pot. Check first to make sure the steam isn't too hot.
- You can buy a special steamer at an affordable price to place in your bedroom or near your bed. This tool tends to be more effective than boiling water.
Step 2. Gargle with warm salt water
Salt kills germs in the mouth and throat, and helps relieve dry and irritated sensations. Gargling salt water twice a day will help relieve a dry throat.
- Add 1 tsp. salt in a little hot water. Let it cool a bit, then add cold water.
- Gargle 1-2 times a day for 30-60 seconds at a time.
- Spit out the mouthwash when you're done. Do not swallow salt water.
- There are also some people who gargle with a solution of apple cider vinegar (1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar per one small glass of water). It doesn't taste good, but it will work.
Step 3. Coat the throat with honey
This method tastes better than salt water or apple cider vinegar.
In addition to coating the throat with a thick texture, honey also has antiseptic properties. No wonder bees love it
Step 4. Suck on the candy to produce saliva
Sucking on lozenges or any hard candy, as well as chewing gum, helps stimulate saliva production which will relieve a dry throat.
Choose a type of sugar-free candy, which does not add to the problem of teeth
Step 5. Drink hot tea
Most people feel that hot drinks have a cooling effect. So a low-caffeine tea, perhaps with honey and lemon added, is a great option for relieving a dry throat.
- Regular herbal teas such as chamomile can provide a cooling effect, but some people believe in the benefits of teas made from ingredients such as mint, ginger, cloves, liquorice, marshmallow root, and slippery elm.
- Try adding a little honey or cinnamon to your tea. Both of these ingredients are believed to have healing powers.
Method 2 of 2: Correcting Conditions That Can Cause a Dry Throat
Step 1. Maintain adequate body fluids
A dry throat is sometimes an indication that your fluid intake is not getting enough. Drinking enough water, especially water, can reduce dry throat problems. Drink water or other fluids throughout the day.
- Limit your intake of drinks containing caffeine and alcohol, for the same reasons athletes coaches recommend. Both of these substances can cause a dehydrating effect. So, whatever the ads say, this is not the drink of choice to quench thirst.
- There are several effects that also cause dehydration. So, consult your doctor or pharmacist whether there is a link between the medication you are taking and the symptoms of a dry throat.
Step 2. Avoid secondhand smoke and pollutants
Smoking is bad for your health for a million other reasons, but this one habit, as well as other irritants like dust and air pollution, can cause a dry throat. If you have a dry throat often (and you don't), limit your exposure to pollutants that irritate your throat.
Step 3. Avoid mouth breathing as much as possible
Breathing through an open mouth not only exposes the back of the throat to drier external air, but the incoming air does not go through the nose and so cannot moisten the inside of the nose. This is one of the reasons why a dry throat also occurs when the nose is blocked.
If you notice a dry throat upon waking, it may be because you were breathing through your mouth while sleeping, and this is a potential sign of an adenoid sinus problem
Step 4. Overcome the problem of rising stomach acid or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
The rise of stomach acid into the esophagus can cause various types of throat irritation, including a dry sensation. Again, if your throat often feels dry when you wake up in the morning, this may be the cause.
If you experience acid reflux at night, try limiting your intake of acid-producing foods at dinner, supporting your head slightly higher with a few pillows, propping the foot of the bed at the head with a wooden block, or consulting your pharmacist or doctor about using prescription medications. or prescription free
Step 5. Solve the dry air problem by using a humidifier
Cold air does not contain enough moisture. So, during the colder months, plus the effects of space heating, the air in the house may become very dry. This can cause a dry throat. The cool steam from a humidifier can relieve a dry throat by adding moisture to the mucus glands.
This fact can also be an excuse for a long vacation to a tropical and warm climate
Step 6. Determine if a dry throat is a sign of a more serious condition
When it's caused by a medical problem, a dry throat is usually the result of a bothersome, but generally less severe, condition, such as an allergy or a cold. However, if there is a more serious condition, a dry and/or sore throat may be an early indicator.
- A dry throat may be an indicator of a serious medical problem. If you experience a dry throat frequently, consider seeing an ENT doctor. An ENT doctor can examine you to determine if there are other problems.
- If you have a fever or feel body aches with a dry throat, consult your doctor to determine if you have an infection.