[toc]Sore throat affects millions of people around the world every year. It is an easily curable condition. Salt water gargling, lozenges, hot fluids, ginger tea and hydration helps significantly in curing a sore throat. Gargling with Listerine also helps in treating sore throat effectively. Anti-inflammatory medications and analgesics can be used to reduce throat pain and swelling.
These medications are available over the counter. Over-the-counter antibiotics help in reducing the bacterial activity. Honey with tea is known to be effective as well. Getting adequate rest helps in reducing the intensity of sore throat. Let us try to understand more about how to cure sore throat.
5 Various Ways to Cure Sore Throat
Salt Water Gargling
This is one of the oldest cures for sore throat. Simply boil a glass of water on the stove, add a teaspoon of salt to it. Let it cool down until it is warm. Gargle with this salt water for 2 to 3 minutes.
This helps in reducing the bacterial activity in your throat. Salt water effectively dehydrates bacteria and kills them. It reduces the redness and the mild pain associated with sore throat. You can gargle 2 to 3 times a day depending on the severity of the disease.
Lozenges
Lozenges help in reducing throat discomfort. Sucking on lozenges helps in the production of saliva in your mouth. This keeps your throat wet and reduces the feeling of dryness. It consequently reduces the cough associated with sore throat.
Lozenges also stop the worsening of sore throat by soothing the outer mucosal lining of your throat. Eucalyptus-containing lozenges provide good momentary relief from sore throat. This increases the effectiveness of other treatment options as well. You can also use medicated cough drops (throat lozenge) to cure sore throat.
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Hot Fluids
Drinking hot fluids helps significantly in curing sore throat. Chicken, tomato and vegetable soups keep your throat and nasal region warm. This reduces the effect of cold near your sinus and throat region. Consequently, sore throat abates in intensity.
You can add a teaspoon of honey in your tea for increased effectiveness. Hot fluids also keep your throat from drying. This takes care of the irritation. Drinking hot milk with honey also helps in curing sore throat. Hot fluids provide instant relief.
Medications
Different types of over-the-counter (OTC) medications are available to cure sore throat. OTC antibiotics are normally recommended for reducing the bacterial activity in the throat. Pain relievers help in abating mild to moderate pain. Low-dose ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be used to alleviate pain with sore throat.
OTC NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can also be used for treating sore throat. Advil is a common NSAID used for curing sore throat. These medications help in reducing the redness and the swelling in your throat. You can also use a cough syrup to soothe any associated cough.
Steam
Inhaling steam is known to be an effective cure for sore throat. You can boil water in a utensil. Keep it on a table or on a mat on the floor. Inhale the steam from this hot water by using a towel on your head so that the steam does not escape easily. Inhaling steam for 8 to 10 minutes 2 to 3 times a day helps in reducing moderate to severe sore throat. Steam helps in calming down your throat irritation.
Sore throat can be cured with the above-mentioned techniques. These techniques are commonly used around the world to abate the intensity of sore throat and cure it effectively. Also, over-the-counter medications help significantly in curing the sore throat condition.
