Easing Irritation From Sore Throats

There are many sore throat remedies, but for people with chronic allergies, the irritation from too much of the same remedy is devastating. The pain from a throat lozenge-damaged palate and tongue and the worn-out feeling of too much salt water rinsing are a call for more techniques to ease the annoyance. 

Understanding The Pain Source

Many itchy or sore spots in the ears, nose or throat have similar areas and reactions. The differences may be subtle, but the difference between an irritated allergy reaction itch or a physical damage itch can make a major difference when choosing your remedy.

If you're suffering from a cold or nasal allergies, inspect the affected area. If it's your throat, look to see if the insides of your mouth are swollen or scarred. If aggressive scarring hasn't begun yet, it may be more affordable to visit an ear nose and throat specialist than to investing in remedies.

An internal problem leading to irritation is often treatable by antibiotic or anti-fungal medication. If you use throat lozenges or any slightly aggressive rinses such as salt water, you may irritate the already-sensitive, swollen skin and cause more problems. Breaking skin, leaking fluids and infection can make a bad situation worse.

Not All Teas Are Helpful For Irritation

Tea is good for easing sore throats, but tea is a very broad topic. Many teas contain high amounts of caffeine and may have dehydrating properties, which may make your throat irritation worse. 

Avoid black teas while dealing with ear, nose and throat problems. Adding honey isn't enough to solve the problem, as you'll be mostly stuck with a sweet, dry residue. Some people drink tea constantly to keep their mouth hydrated, not realizing that the tea is part of the problem.

Green tea from leaves or powder (matcha) can be helpful, but make sure that the water content is high enough. You'll want the tea to be a bit watered down for throat purposes, so use double the amount of water. For flavor, dissolving throat lozenges in the tea is acceptable.

Many soups can be used for the same effect. Again, avoid soups that may lead to a dry mouth, such as soups with a high salt content. Water the soups down, if necessary, and make sure to keep your mouth well hydrated.

If the ear, nose and throat problems persist more than a week, visit a specialist like Christopher M. Shaari, MD as soon as possible.

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