Both hot and cold can be good for a sore throat; warm liquids like tea soothe and hydrate, while cold items like popsicles can numb pain and reduce inflammation, so the best choice depends on personal preference, with many finding relief in both or a mix, alongside remedies like salt water gargles and rest.
Depending on the cause of your sore throat, cold and hot foods can help make your sore throat feel better. Cool foods and drinks cool down nerve endings in the throat, reducing pain signals. Cold food helps reduce inflammation and swelling in your throat.
How to treat a sore throat yourself
For a pregnancy-safe sore throat, focus on hydration, rest, and home remedies like gargling with warm salt water, sipping honey and lemon tea, and using lozenges with local anesthetics (like benzocaine) or antiseptics (like menthol). Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) are generally safe, but always consult your doctor before taking any medication, avoiding NSAIDs like ibuprofen and decongestants in the first trimester.
To soothe a child's sore throat, offer plenty of fluids, soft foods like yogurt or soup, and cold treats like popsicles, while using pain relievers like children's ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed (never aspirin for kids). For older kids (over 4), salt water gargles and lozenges help, and honey (over age 1) can soothe, but always ensure hydration, rest, and avoid smoke irritants, seeing a doctor for severe symptoms.
Five common signs of strep throat include a sudden, painful sore throat, difficulty swallowing, fever, red and swollen tonsils with white patches, and swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck, often without typical cold symptoms like a cough. Tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth (petechiae) and a sandpaper-like rash (scarlet fever) can also occur.
Most sore throats related to a viral infection go away within three to 10 days. If your sore throat lasts longer than this, it may be a symptom of a condition that requires prescription medications or other treatments your healthcare provider can recommend.
How to sleep with sore throats
Conclusions: The use of Kalgaron® or Strepsils® during pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk of malformations, spontaneous abortions or decreased birthweight. However, larger studies are needed to confirm the safety of these medications during pregnancy.
Stage 1 of a sore throat, often the start of a cold or flu, involves early symptoms like a tickle, scratchiness, or mild pain in the throat, possibly with sneezing, usually appearing 1-3 days after infection, and can be managed with rest, fluids, saltwater gargles, and OTC pain relievers, but see a doctor if it's severe, lasts over a week, or comes with a high fever or trouble breathing.
To help soothe a sore throat:
Gargling with salt water: Salt water may decrease inflammation and make swallowing less painful. Mix 8 ounces (oz) of warm water with 1 teaspoon (tsp) of salt and gargle this solution several times a day. Sipping warm drinks: Warm drinks, such as herbal tea, may help decrease pain.
To quickly soothe a sore throat, drink warm liquids like honey lemon tea, chamomile, or broth, which coat and calm irritation, or try cold drinks/popsicles to numb the pain and reduce inflammation, with warm saltwater gargles (for adults/older kids) also offering fast relief by breaking down secretions and killing bacteria.
Foods to avoid with sore throat
Foods and drinks that are cool tend to help reduce swelling, doctors say, which can ease some of the pain of a sore throat. Items like Popsicles also help prevent dehydration.
Gargle with saltwater.
A saltwater gargle of 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon (1250-2500 milligrams) of table salt to 4 to 8 ounces (120 to 240 milliliters) of warm water can help soothe a sore throat. Children older than 6 and adults can gargle the water and then spit it out.
You can also use a heating pad if available. If you are using a cloth and warm water, soak the cloth in the warm water, wring out the excess water and fold it into a size that fits comfortably on your neck.
Salt-Water Gargle
Gargling warm salt-water is a simple but powerful remedy for sore throats. It works by reducing inflammation, and killing harmful bacteria in the throat. To create your salt-water remedy, simply mix ¼ to ½ teaspoons of salt into a cup of warm water.
Signs and symptoms of strep throat can include:
But beware: Lying flat may cause swelling from the increased pressure on the back of your throat and increased congestion. Elevate your bed or sit propped up in a chair if lying down causes discomfort.
Causes of a Worsened Sore Throat at Night
As the evening progresses and we turn on heaters or air conditioners, the moisture levels in our surroundings drop significantly. This can lead to dryness in the throat, exacerbating any existing irritation and causing discomfort, especially when swallowing.
Red flags for a sore throat that need urgent care include difficulty breathing or swallowing, severe pain (especially on one side), drooling, inability to open your mouth fully, stiff neck, confusion, high fever with shivering, dehydration signs, or blood in saliva, as these can signal serious issues like airway obstruction, severe infection, or rare conditions needing immediate attention. See a doctor if it lasts over a week, recurs often, or if you have night sweats, unexplained weight loss, or a weakened immune system.
Try water first, then ice pops and ginger ale. Diluted fruit juice is fine, too, in moderation. For a sore throat, either warm or very cold liquids are soothing: warm tea, hot chocolate, ice pops, and cold juice. You might want to skip any citrus juices, since they're acidic and can hurt some children's throats.
Most often, a sore throat is caused by a virus like the flu or common cold. The sore throat will go away on its own in a few days without any treatment. Two different germs cause sore throats – viruses and bacteria. They are both contagious and easily spread to others.