Effective Home Remedies To Kill a Sore Throat Fast

Learn what kills a sore throat fast at home.

Nobody likes waking up with a sore throat. A sore throat, or pharyngitis, is one of the top reasons people call out sick from work or visit the doctor's office.

A sore throat is a soreness or discomfort in your throat, often linked to various illnesses. Depending on what's causing your sore throat, various approaches may help you find relief.

Home remedies for faster healing include:

• Saltwater gargle
• Lemon and honey
• Herbal teas
• Humidifiers
• Lozenges
• Hard candies

Learn what kills a sore throat fast at home.

A sore throat is a symptom of the common cold, along with allergies, upper respiratory illness, or strep throat. Sore throat pain from a virus typically appears with the following symptoms:

• Runny nose
• Cough
• Dry or scratchy sensation
• A hoarse, raspy voice
• Pink eye (conjunctivitis)

When group A strep (Streptococcus pyogenes) bacteria attack your body, you'll likely notice some of the symptoms associated with a viral infection. However, strep throat symptoms develop much more quickly and include:

• Fever
• Sudden throat pain
• Swollen tonsils, often covered with pus or white patches
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Tiny red spots that appear on the roof of the mouth

Sometimes strep bacteria will cause a red rash that spreads across your body. This is called scarlet fever.

There are many reasons you can develop a sore throat. Cold viruses or the flu can cause this condition, as can bacterial infections like strep throat. Other reasons include:

• Mononucleosis
• Seasonal allergies
• Smoking
• Tonsillitis

If your sore throat results from a virus, you'll need to rest and let your body heal.

What kills a sore throat fast at home?

Here are seven things you can do at home to soothe your sore throat pain:

1. Saltwater gargle
   • Saltwater gargle is one of the best home remedies for strep throat. Saltwater may not provide instant relief, but it's a way to kill bacteria, loosen mucus, and ease the pain.
   • Mix half a teaspoon of salt with eight ounces of warm water, gargle, and spit.
2. Honey and lemon
   • A mixture of honey and lemon scores high among natural remedies for sore throats. Honey has antibacterial properties and helps reduce inflammation. It also acts as a natural cough suppressant. Lemon juice breaks up mucus and contains immunity-boosting vitamin C to fight your infection.
   • Mix one teaspoon of lemon juice with two tablespoons of honey. Add it to a cup of tea or hot water, stir well, and sip away.
3. Herbal tea
   • Some herbs help heal a sore throat. Three good options for relieving inflammation and pain are:
     • Chamomile
     • Raspberry
     • Peppermint
4. Humidifier
   • Dry air is harsh on the throat and lungs, especially during the winter months. A humidifier will open your sinuses and keep the air in your room moist, making it easier to breathe.
5. Lozenges or hard candies
   • Sucking on a throat lozenge or candy helps produce saliva which can soothe your sore throat by keeping it from drying out.
6. Throat spray
   • A throat spray with numbing agents like lidocaine or even an herbal mixture of echinacea and sage can relieve a scratchy throat.
   • Spray your throat liberally a few times a day.
7. Over-the-counter pain medications
   • Over-the-counter pain medications, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can also help alleviate throat pain and body aches.

Sore throat pain associated with a virus is typically mild, lasts for a few days, and responds well to at-home treatment. If you have untreated strep throat or a condition like tonsilitis, you may have throat pain for much longer.

If your sore throat is severe, you have a rash, swollen tonsils, or a fever over 101 degrees that lasts for longer than a day, it's time to make an appointment with your doctor. It's likely strep or another bacterial infection. In this situation, you'll typically be prescribed antibiotics and can continue the at-home remedies to soothe your throat pain.

What causes a sore throat?

The most common causes for a sore throat are viral infections such as flu or cold. Other causes of sore throat include allergies, bacterial infections, upper respiratory illnesses, mononucleosis, tonsillitis, and epiglottitis. Smoking can irritate the throat and cause pain and hoarseness.

How long does a sore throat usually last?

Sore throats caused by cold or flu typically last for a week to 10 days, and if it is from mononucleosis, it may last up to 4 weeks. Sore throat due to tonsillitis, epiglottitis, or other bacterial infections can last till the infection is completely cleared with antibiotics. With seasonal allergies, it may persist so long as you are exposed to the allergens that cause you irritation.

What over-the-counter medications can help with a sore throat?

Over-the-counter medications that can relieve pain from sore throat include lozenges, cough drops, cough syrups, lidocaine throat sprays, paracetamol, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. Do not take antibiotics on your own, take them only if your doctor prescribes them. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics can give rise to drug-resistant bacteria.

What foods should I avoid if I have a sore throat?

Avoid eating hot and spicy food if you have a sore throat. Avoid crunchy and crisp foods, and foods that are hard to chew or have jagged edges that can hurt your throat. Stick to warm, soft, and easy-to-swallow foods. Avoid dairy, because it may increase mucus production and make your condition worse.

Is a sore throat contagious?

A sore throat is contagious if it is caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Infection can spread through saliva droplets. However, if your sore throat is caused by an allergy, it is not contagious.

How to cure a sore throat overnight at home

A sore throat cannot be cured overnight at home, or even if you see a doctor. Sore throat from a simple cold or flu can last up to 10 days and severe infections can last for a month or longer. What you can do, however, is soothe your throat pain and discomfort with various home remedies or OTC medicines until the infection clears.

What drink kills a sore throat fast?

Honey and lemon mixed in warm water, ginger tea, green tea, and herbal teas made with peppermint, chamomile, or raspberry are excellent drinks that can soothe a sore throat. Adding a clove to any of these drinks can help too, because it has anti-bacterial properties. Chicken or vegetable soups are gentle on your throat as well as nourishing.

Can hot water cure a sore throat?

No, hot water cannot cure a sore throat, but sipping on warm water can soothe the throat. Drinking water that’s too hot can burn your tongue and throat, so make sure you don't drink any beverage too hot.

When should I see a doctor for a sore throat?

See a doctor if you have severe throat pain that is not relieved with home remedies or OTC medicines. Consult a doctor as soon as possible if your sore throat does not improve within a few days or worsens, or if your sore throat is accompanied by other symptoms such as rash, fever over 101 degrees for longer than one day, swollen tonsils, difficulty swallowing, or blood in saliva or phlegm. If you have shortness of breath or facial swelling associated with your sore throat symptoms, call 911 and get to a hospital immediately as this can be life-threatening.