Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Moisturize your throat
• Part 2 of 3: Eliminate the cause of dry throat
• Part 3 of 3: Medical Assistance

Dry throat can be caused by a variety of reasons, both serious and minor. A sudden dry throat can usually be treated with home remedies, while chronic dryness may require medical attention.

Attention:the information in this article is for informational purposes only. Check with your healthcare professional before using any medication.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Moisturize your throat

1. 1 Drink plenty of fluids. As a general rule, you should drink 8 glasses (2 liters) of water and other liquids daily.
   • Maintaining water balance allows the body to produce enough saliva to keep the throat moist. It also helps to thin the mucus so that it does not accumulate on the inner walls of the throat and irritate them.
   • One of the most beneficial drinks for dry throat is tea. Many herbal teas naturally relieve throat irritation, and tea leaves contain antioxidants that boost immunity. Avoid caffeinated teas, however, as caffeine can dehydrate you.
2. 2 Eat liquid food. Alternate or mix solid foods with broths, soups, sauces, gravies, creams, butter, or margarine. This is an easy and effective way to moisturize your throat and provide your body with the fluid it needs.
   • In addition to restoring water balance, liquid food is easier to swallow, which is important for dry throat. Softened and warm liquid food is especially easy to swallow.
3. 3 Eat honey. While honey is generally recommended for sore throat, it can also help relieve irritation and dry throat. Honey coats the lining of the throat and protects it from irritation and dryness.
   • Dissolve 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of honey in a glass (250 milliliters) of warm or hot water.You can also squeeze lemon into the water to boost your immune system. Drink the mixture 1-3 times a day.
   • Take some caution. If you have a dry mouth for a long time, honey and lemon can increase your risk of tooth decay. In addition, honey is not safe for babies under one year old.
4. 4 Gargle with salt water. Salt water is another remedy that is often used to treat throat, and under certain circumstances it can help dry throat as well.
   • If dry throat is caused by seasonal irritants such as dry air or allergens, gargling with salt water may be beneficial. However, if your chronic dry throat is related to other causes, salt water can irritate your throat.
   • To make a saline gargle, dissolve 1 teaspoon (7 grams) of salt in a glass (250 milliliters) of warm water. Gargle the solution around your throat for at least 30 seconds, then spit it out.
   • Instead of salt water, you can gargle with licorice water. Take 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of natural licorice powder (licorice root) and dissolve it in a glass (250 ml) of warm water. Gargle with salt water.
5. 5 Chew gum or suck on hard candy. This promotes salivation in the mouth and throat. As a result, the saliva will gradually moisten the dry throat.
   • It is best to choose sugar-free gum and hard candies, especially if your throat is chronically dry. Lack of saliva in the mouth and throat increases the risk of tooth decay, which is also facilitated by excess sugar.
   • Likewise, you can suck on ice cubes, sugar-free popsicles, or throat lozenges to help increase your saliva. If the lozenges contain numbing ingredients such as menthol or eucalyptus, they will provide additional relief.
6. 6 Apply steam and moist air to the throat. Dry throat is often caused by dry air. Try to breathe humid air more often. It is best if the air is humid throughout the day. Breathing in steam for a short time can also provide at least temporary relief.
   • Use a humidifier. Place a humidifier in your bedroom or other room where you spend a significant portion of your time. Humidifiers infuse the air with warm moisture. Breathing in moist air will help relieve irritation and moisturize a dry throat.
   • If you don't have a humidifier, fill a deep bowl with warm water and place it near a heat source (not near an electric heater). As it heats up, the water will evaporate rapidly, which will increase the humidity in the air.
   • Take a hot shower and breathe in the steam for a few minutes. You can also lean over a bowl of hot water and breathe in the steam. This way you can at least temporarily relieve a dry throat.
7. 7 Try artificial saliva. These products come in the form of aerosols, tampons, and mouthwashes, and can be purchased over the counter at the pharmacy.
   • While artificial saliva is not as effective as natural saliva, it moisturizes the throat and helps reduce the discomfort caused by chronic dryness.
   • Look for products with xylitol, carboxymethyl cellulose, or hydroxyethyl cellulose. Each of these remedies has its own advantages and disadvantages, and some may be more effective than others, so try several remedies and see which one works best for you.

Part 2 of 3: Eliminate the cause of dry throat

1. 1 Breathe through your nose. When breathing through the mouth, the air is not filtered, and this increases the likelihood that it will dry out the lining of the throat. At the same time, when passing through the nose, the air is filtered and becomes more humid.
   • If you find it difficult to breathe due to a stuffy nose, try over-the-counter nasal congestion medications to fix the problem.
2. 2 Refrain from dry, salty, and spicy foods. Foods like these can make your throat feel dry, so it's best to avoid them until the problem is resolved.
   • Spicy and salty foods not only make dryness worse but can also cause sore throat.
   • Salty and spicy foods are easy to spot, but there are many dry foods you may eat without knowing it. Common dry foods include toast, biscuits, dry bread, dried fruit, and bananas.
3. 3 Refrain from alcoholic and caffeinated drinks. Alcohol and caffeine do not saturate the body with fluid, but dehydrate it, they dry out the throat and all other organs.
   • Alcohol and caffeine dry out the mouth and throat directly, and contribute to general dehydration due to more frequent urination.
   • For the same reasons, acidic beverages, including fruit and tomato juices, should be avoided. While these drinks may not contribute to overall dehydration, they can additionally irritate a dry and sensitive throat. In addition, acidic drinks increase the risk of tooth decay, which is already increased by dry throat and mouth.
4. 4 Check the medications you are taking. Many common medicines can be classified as “anticholinergics”. This means they reduce secretions, including salivation, and can cause dry throat.
   • These drugs include antihistamines, tricyclic antidepressants, and antispasmodics. A dry throat can also be caused by many drugs that are taken for Parkinson's disease, an overactive bladder, and chronic bronchitis.
   • If you suspect a certain medication is causing a dry throat, check with your doctor before doing anything. Do not stop taking your prescribed drugs without a doctor's recommendation.
5. 5 Change your mouthwash and other oral care products. Many standard mouthwashes and toothpastes can increase dry throat, so try products that are specifically designed for those with dry throat and mouth.
   • An unsuitable mouthwash can be very harmful if your throat is dry. Most of these products contain alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, which can make your mouth and throat dry.
   • You can consult your dentist or choose your own oral care products. When doing this, look for mouthwash and toothpaste that say they are specifically made for those who experience dry mouth and throat.
6. 6 Stop smoking. If you smoke, quitting this bad habit will help overcome dry throat. When you smoke, you inhale substances that dry out and irritate your throat, which can cause or worsen chronic dryness in your throat.
   • Cigarette smoke paralyzes the cilia in the nose and lungs. As a result, the respiratory system loses its ability to remove mucus, dust and other irritants from the body. This causes coughing and increases dryness in the mouth, nose, and throat.

Part 3 of 3: Medical Assistance

1. 1 Check with your doctor or dentist. If you experience persistent dry throat that gets worse over time or doesn't go away with home remedies, make an appointment with your doctor or dentist. You may need medical attention.
   • Chronic dry throat can lead to noticeable complications if left untreated. For example, over time it may be difficult to swallow food. When combined with a dry mouth, a dry throat makes it difficult to chew and taste, and increases the risk of tooth decay due to a lack of saliva in the mouth to protect teeth and gums.
   • Among other things, a viral or bacterial infection can cause dryness and sores in the throat.If left untreated, the disease can lead to more serious health problems.
2. 2 Determine the reason. Certain diseases can cause chronic dry throat, and if one of them is causing your problems, your doctor can diagnose and treat you that will, among other things, relieve dry throat.
   • Some diseases, such as Sjogren's syndrome, directly affect the salivary glands and reduce salivation. Other illnesses such as fungal infections of the mouth, colds, allergies, and diabetes can indirectly cause dry throat.
3. 3 Learn about drugs that increase salivation. If the dry throat is caused by an immune disorder or damage to the salivary glands, your doctor may prescribe pilocarpine, which stimulates the affected nerves and thus increases salivation.
   • If the dry throat is caused by Sjogren's syndrome, your doctor may prescribe cevimelin to treat the condition and associated symptoms.