How to get rid of sore throat quickly

When your throat hurts it’s because it has been irritated, which can happen for many reasons. Among the most common are post-nasal drip, chronic allergies, pollution or cold/flu. The discomfort is usually mild and self-limited; however, sometimes a sore throat gets so bad that you need more than a Popsicle!

My focus today is just to relieve the symptom of a non-serious sore throat. See your doctor if yours is accompanied by other symptoms because it is an early symptom of the omicron variant.

Here are five incredibly fast-acting ways to soothe your sore throat:

Salt-water gargle: Gargling with saltwater is a well-known remedy to help with throat pain. Saltwater helps by reducing inflammation and pain in the area. It can drive out some pathogens in the tissue simply by making your throat less hospitable to them! Here’s a recipe that’s even better than salt water:

8 oz. cool water

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon sea salt (or real salt if you have it)

Combine about 5 drops of essential oils into the salt water using any of these: Eucalyptus, peppermint, thyme, On Guard, Thieves or even lemon.

Stir together and gargle with this every three to four hours. 

Lozenges: The lozenge you choose is entirely up to you, but most of them contain menthol, benzocaine, dyclonine, honey or eucalyptus, and more. Each ingredient does something slightly different, but they’re all similar in that they act to anesthetize your throat for a few minutes so you swallow better and find more comfort. Lozenges are not generally curative; they’re mainly for symptomatic relief, although eucalyptus does have some “kill” action.

A big spoon of honey: For adults, a spoonful of honey is soothing to a scratchy, sore throat especially if it is accompanied by a cough. Raw honey contains natural antibacterial agents such as bee pollen and bee propolis. Do not give honey to babies younger than 1 or 2 years old.

Sip herbal teas: You can have it iced or warm. The temperature of the tea is completely your preference. Even when my throat is sore, I still prefer warm herbal tea over iced tea. There are commercial tea bags made specifically for sore throats, or make your own spearmint and slippery elm bark tea. Add some dried orange peel for vitamin C.

Ibuprofen or acetaminophen: These analgesics listed here are great antipyretics, which is why they’re useful for both fever and pain. These reduce swelling, which affords you temporary relief so you can take in nourishment and food.

In closing, if you develop a high fever, chills or see a buildup of pus near your tonsils, or any other symptoms that are indicative of infection, please see your practitioner and get proper antiviral or antibiotic treatment.

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Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better by themselves within a week.

How to treat a sore throat yourself

To help soothe a sore throat and shorten how long it lasts, you can:

  • gargle with warm, salty water (children should not try this)
  • drink plenty of water
  • eat cool or soft foods
  • avoid smoking or smoky places
  • suck ice cubes, ice lollies or hard sweets – but do not give young children anything small and hard to suck because of the risk of choking
  • rest

If you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.

How to gargle with salt water

  1. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water (warm water helps salt dissolve).
  2. Gargle with the solution, then spit it out (do not swallow it).
  3. Repeat as often as you like.

Video: how to treat a sore throat

This video shows you how to treat a sore throat.

Media last reviewed: 1 June 2020
Media review due: 1 June 2023

A pharmacist can help with sore throats

You can ask a pharmacist about ways of relieving the pain and discomfort of a sore throat, such as:

  • paracetamol or ibuprofen
  • medicated lozenges containing a local anaesthetic, antiseptic, or anti-inflammatory medicine
  • anaesthetic spray (although there's little proof they help)

You can buy these treatments from a supermarket or from a pharmacist without a prescription.

Information:

Call your pharmacy or contact them online before going in person. You can get medicines delivered or ask someone to collect them.

Find a pharmacy

Antibiotics

You do not normally need antibiotics for a sore throat because they will not usually relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.

They'll only be prescribed if a GP thinks you could have a bacterial infection.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

  • your sore throat does not improve after a week
  • you often get sore throats
  • you're worried about your sore throat
  • you have a sore throat and a very high temperature, or you feel hot and shivery
  • you have a weakened immune system – for example, because of diabetes or chemotherapy

A severe or long-lasting sore throat could be something like strep throat (a bacterial throat infection).

Immediate action required: Call 999 if:

You or your child:

  • have difficulty swallowing or breathing
  • are drooling – this can be a sign of not being able to swallow
  • are making a high-pitched sound as you breathe (called stridor)
  • have severe symptoms and are getting worse quickly

Sore throat symptoms

If you have a sore throat you might have:

  • a painful throat, especially when swallowing
  • a dry, scratchy throat
  • redness in the back of your mouth
  • bad breath
  • a mild cough
  • swollen neck glands

The symptoms are similar for children, but children can also get a temperature and appear less active.

Causes of sore throats

Sore throats are usually caused by viruses (like cold or flu) or from smoking. Very occasionally they can be caused by bacteria.

A sore throat can also be caused by:

  • laryngitis
  • tonsillitis
  • strep throat (a bacterial throat infection)
  • glandular fever

Page last reviewed: 05 February 2021
Next review due: 05 February 2024

How do you get rid of a sore throat in 3 minutes?

The skinny: Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of salt — or a similar amount of baking soda — in a glass of warm water. Gargle (but don’t swallow) the concoction every three hours for an all-natural sore throat remedy. Doctor’s advice: Salt water can help reduce swelling and irritation in your throat.

Is apple cider vinegar and salt water good for sore throat?

Gargle with salt water—but steer clear of apple cider vinegar. Salt water is a great home remedy for sore throat, as it can reduce swelling and calm inflammation and irritation. It may also help draw infections or irritants to the surface of your throat, where your body is better able to deal with them.

How can I get rid of a scratchy throat?

Gargling with warm salt water can help soothe a scratchy throat. The salt pulls the mucus out of your swollen, inflamed tissue and helps relieve the discomfort. ... However, candy and cough drops won’t soothe your sore throat for as long as medicated lozenges or relieve it as effectively, and you may find yourself needing relief again soon.

Is salt water good for a sore throat?

Salt water is a great home remedy for sore throat, as it can reduce swelling and calm inflammation and irritation. It may also help draw infections or irritants to the surface of your throat, where your body is better able to deal with them.

How do you get rid of a sore throat overnight?

16 Best Sore Throat Remedies to Make You Feel Better Fast, According to Doctors.
Gargle with salt water—but steer clear of apple cider vinegar. ... .
Drink extra-cold liquids. ... .
Suck on an ice pop. ... .
Fight dry air with a humidifier. ... .
Skip acidic foods. ... .
Swallow antacids. ... .
Sip herbal teas. ... .
Coat and soothe your throat with honey..

What makes sore throats go away fast?

Clove tea and green tea both contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to fight against infections while providing relief. Raspberry, chamomile, and peppermint tea are great choices for relieving pain and reducing inflammation.

How do you get rid of a sore throat in 3 hours?

6 home remedies to get rid of a sore throat.
Warm and cold fluids. Sip on warm drinks, like tea or chicken soup. ... .
Gargling. Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of salt — or a similar amount of baking soda — in a glass of warm water. ... .
Over-the-counter antihistamines and pain relievers. ... .
Steam and humidity. ... .
Hot toddy. ... .

How long does sore throat last?

How long will the effects of a sore throat last? Viral pharyngitis often goes away in five to seven days. If you have bacterial pharyngitis, you will feel better after you have taken antibiotics for two to three days. You must take your antibiotic even when you are feeling better.