1. Do Your Best to Prevent Getting a Sore Throat
The most common causes of a sore throat include the common cold and flu. While the best way to prevent getting sick is to avoid those who are infected, that's not always possible. You can reduce your risk of contracting a cold or the flu by carrying hand sanitizer on you at all times and using it when you come in contact with an infected person. In addition, you can limit the amount of germs you pick up from high-risk areas like public restrooms by using paper towels to shield your hands from germs on the bathroom doors and toilet handles. Studies have also shown that proactively taking extra doses of vitamin C (ideally up to 400mg) on a daily basis may boost your immune system enough to help you ward off illnesses that cause sore throats.
2. Bathe Your Mouth in a Warm Salt Water Gargle
Place a teaspoon or so of salt into 8 oz. of warm water. Mix thoroughly and gargle with the mixture, spitting out each sip when you are done with it. Do this several times a day if necessary. It helps heal throat irritation and soothes the back of your mouth as well.
3. Use a Humidifier or Vaporizer
You might find that keeping your home at a higher humidity helps your sore throat. There are several different inexpensive models of cool humidifiers and warm vaporizers on the market. In retail stores, these products are most often found on the baby product aisle. If you don't have a store-bought humidifier, you can arrange a temporary solution by running the shower while you sit in the bathroom--this helps to clear your nasal passages and soothe your throat.
4. Drink Fluids to Rehydrate Your Body
You always hear how important it is to stay hydrated. During an illness, it is even more important. If you have a cold, for example, post nasal drip can add to your sore throat, but drinking six to eight glasses of water each day will thin mucus secretions, soothing your throat. This is true even if your sore throat isn't caused by a cold or allergies.
5. Use Over-the-Counter Medications
The often-frustrating post-nasal drip that accompanies a cold or allergies can further damage a throat plagued by irritants. You can reduce the effects of post-nasal drip and swollen membranes by taking over-the-counter medications like decongestants. Some decongestants are classified as multi-symptom, which usually means they contain some sort of analgesic designed to reduce inflammation and pain. If your decongestant does not contain an analgesic, you can usually pair it with an over-the-counter painkiller, such as acetaminophen, naproxen or aspirin. However, remember never to give a child under the age of 19 aspirin without a doctor's supervision, due to an increased risk of developing the rare, but deadly, Reye's syndrome.
