Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Relieve the symptoms of a dry throat
• Method 2 of 2: Treat conditions that can cause dry throat
• Warnings

Although the term dry throat is self-explanatory, it can mean all kinds of discomfort, such as irritation or itching that makes the throat hurt, difficulty swallowing, changed taste, or a feeling of discomfort from dust in the back of the throat. A dry throat is often caused by a medical condition, usually not serious, but it can also be caused by environmental factors, dehydration, mouth breathing, and other problems. A dry throat can often be easily remedied or at least alleviated by a variety of remedies for known symptoms and by treating the underlying condition that dries out the mucous membranes in the throat.

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Method 1 of 2: Relieve the symptoms of a dry throat

1. Take a steam bath. When you inhale steam, you moisten the dry mucous membranes. Use this as an excuse to take a long, steaming hot bath regularly.
   • Another method is to boil a pot of water, remove it from the heat, put a towel over your head, and hang your face over the steaming pan. First feel if the steam is not too hot.
   • You can also buy reasonably cheap steamers that you can put in the room or next to your bed. This is usually more effective than boiling water.
2. Gargle with warm, salt water. Salt kills germs in the mouth and throat and helps against dryness and irritation. Gargling with salt water a few times a day will soothe a dry throat.
   • Put 1 teaspoon in 250 ml of hot water. Let it cool down and add a little cold water if necessary.
   • Gargle 1-2 times a day for 30-60 seconds at a time.
   • Spit out the water when you are done. Do not swallow the salt water.
   • Some people prefer to gargle with a solution of apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon of vinegar per 250 ml of water). It doesn't taste that good, but it can work.
3. Cover the inside of your throat with a layer of honey. This tastes better than the salt or vinegar solution!
   • Besides the fact that the honey deposits a layer in the throat, it also has antiseptic properties. No wonder bees love it.
4. Suck on a lozenge to build up saliva. Chewing a lozenge, gum or hard candy stimulates saliva production, which can soothe a dry throat.
   • Preferably choose a sugar-free variant - the dentist will be proud of you.
5. Drink warm tea. Most people find that hot drinks have a soothing effect, so low-caffeinated tea, possibly with honey and lemon, can be a good choice for a dry throat.
   • Certain herbal teas such as chamomile provide relief, but some people swear by herbal teas made from peppermint, ginger, cloves, licorice root, echinacea, and slippery elm.
   • Consider adding some honey to your tea. Both drugs have medicinal properties.

Method 2 of 2: Treat conditions that can cause dry throat

1. Stay well hydrated. A dry throat can indicate that you are not drinking enough. If you drink a lot, preferably plain water, you may be able to remedy the dry throat. Drink water or other liquids throughout the day.
   • Drink less caffeine and alcohol. These substances have a drying effect, so no matter what the commercials promise you, don't take these drinks to quench your thirst.
   • Certain medications can also dry out your body, so see your doctor if you suspect the medications are causing your dry throat.
2. Avoid tobacco and air pollution. Smoking is a bad idea for a million reasons, but like other irritants and air pollution, it can cause a dry throat. If you have a dry throat (and even if you don't), try to limit exposure to irritating pollutants.
3. Consider if you are breathing through your mouth. When you breathe through your mouth, you not only expose the back of your throat to dry air from the outside, but that air is not filtered through your nose first. This is one reason you can get a dry throat when your nose is blocked.
   • If you notice that your throat is especially dry when you first woke up, it may be because you are breathing through your mouth in your sleep - which could be a sign that you are having problems with your tonsil.
4. Address possible acid reflux or heartburn. The backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus can irritate the throat, causing it to feel dry. Again, if you mainly suffer from a dry throat when you wake up, this could be the case.
   • If you suffer from heartburn at night, try to eat less things in the evening that cause you to induce acid regurgitation, elevate your head with an extra pillow or raise your bed legs by the headboard, or see your pharmacist or doctor about medicines you might be taking.
5. Make the air less dry with a humidifier. Cold air retains less moisture, so especially in winter the air in the house can become very dry, especially when the heating is on. This can lead to a dry throat.The cool mist from a humidifier can soothe a dry throat by moisturizing the mucous membranes.
   • This can also be a good excuse to take a long vacation in winter to a warm, tropical climate!
6. Rule out serious conditions. When a dry throat is caused by a medical condition, it is usually a nasty but not dangerous condition such as an allergy or a cold. That said, a dry throat can also be an indication of a more serious condition.
   • A dry throat can be an indication of a serious underlying condition. If you often have a dry or sore throat, see an ENT specialist. This can rule out serious conditions.
   • If you have a fever and muscle pain in addition to a dry throat, see your doctor to see if you have an infection.

Warnings

• A dry throat is usually just annoying and not dangerous, but if it is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, pain, fatigue, white patches on the tongue or tonsils, or if you are coughing up blood, see your doctor.