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What are Different Dry Throat Remedies?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

There are many different dry throat remedies, including drinking water; warm beverages with honey; or warm beverages that include a combination of lemon and honey. In most cases, it's best to choose decaffeinated beverages to treat a dry throat, as caffeinated drinks may sometimes make symptoms worse. A person may also gargle with a soothing solution or suck on throat lozenges to get rid of dry throat symptoms. Using a humidifier may help as well.

One of the simplest dry throat remedies involves drinking more water and other beverages. Often, a person’s throat feels too dry because he isn’t consuming enough liquids. Plain water is often effective for remedying this, but other liquids may help as well. In general, a person may be advised to avoid caffeinated beverages when he’s dealing with a dry throat. Beverages that contain caffeine may contribute to dehydration and make dry throat symptoms even worse.

Drinking water can relieve a dry throat.
Drinking water can relieve a dry throat.

Decaffeinated tea with honey is also among the most popular dry throat remedies. Warm liquids are often very soothing for a person’s throat, and honey has soothing properties as well. Some people may even drink warm water without a tea bag to soothe a dry throat. Adding lemon and honey to it may work as well.

Gargling with soothing liquids is also among the most commonly used dry throat remedies. For example, a person may mix a solution of warm water and salt and gargle with it to soothe a dry throat. Some people also gargle with warm water and vinegar for this purpose. For instance, a person may gargle with warm water and apple cider vinegar in an effort to moisten a dry throat and make it feel better.

Honey may help soothe a dry throat.
Honey may help soothe a dry throat.

Sucking on throat lozenges may provide temporary relief from a dry throat as well. For example, some types of cough drops may be good for this purpose. In fact, there are some cough drops and throat lozenges that contain honey for a soothing effect.

Sometimes a person may develop a dry throat because of the heat in his home or apartment, and using a humidifier may help. There are both warm and cool humidifiers from which a person may choose. Some people prefer the steam-vaporizer type of humidifier because it boils the water placed in them and kills any bacteria that may collect there. Others may prefer cool humidifiers because they do not carry the risk of burns that steam vaporizers do. Both types may help to prevent dry throat symptoms, however, and reduce them when they do develop.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

literally45

Throat lozanges are nice for throat congestion and dry throat but I don't like to use them all the time because they have medication inside. Good old cough drops or ginger drops works just as well.

Water is the best thing to drink for dry throat. Tea and coffee feel good while drinking because they're hot, but they make things worse in the long run because they're diuretic. So they actually remove water from the body. All caffeinated drinks do this.

fify

@ankara-- I think sipping on herbal tea works even better than water. I like to drink chamomile, mint and linden tea. None of them have caffeine and you can drink as much as you want. Add a slice of lemon and a little bit honey to make it extra soothing.

Also, have you tried a humidifier? I got one from the pharmacy for nighttime dry throat and it has worked so well. It doesn't cost that much either. I turn it on before I go to sleep and let it run throughout the night.

If nothing is works for your dry throat, you should talk to your doctor about switching to another medication. It's really frustrating to live with a dry, sore throat all the time.

bluedolphin

I have chronic dry throat because of a medication I'm on. I'm sipping on water throughout the day and I've tried warm salt gargling. But my throat still doesn't feel better. I need better remedies for dry throat.

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    • Drinking water can relieve a dry throat.
      Drinking water can relieve a dry throat.
    • Honey may help soothe a dry throat.
      By: Jaimie Duplass
      Honey may help soothe a dry throat.
    • A crossection of the human head, including the throat.
      By: pixelcaos
      A crossection of the human head, including the throat.
    • Apple cider vinegar can help with a dry throat.
      By: Comugnero Silvana
      Apple cider vinegar can help with a dry throat.
    • Cough drops relieve the discomfort from a dry throat.
      By: Mark Herreid
      Cough drops relieve the discomfort from a dry throat.
    • The best dry throat remedy can depend on the cause.
      By: DDRockstar
      The best dry throat remedy can depend on the cause.
    • Using a humidifier may help treat dry throat.
      By: StockPhotosArt
      Using a humidifier may help treat dry throat.
    • Some throat lozenges contain honey for an added soothing effect.
      By: kostrez
      Some throat lozenges contain honey for an added soothing effect.
    • Ice chips can provide soothing relief for a dry throat.
      By: Silkstock
      Ice chips can provide soothing relief for a dry throat.
    • Gargling with saltwater can soothe a dry throat.
      By: JackF
      Gargling with saltwater can soothe a dry throat.