Home Remedies to Help Get Rid of the Tickle in Your Throat

Knowing what causes a tickle in your throat is crucial to figuring out how to get rid of it.First and foremost, a tickle in your throat is a symptom. It can be a sign of an illness or a reaction to your environment. This funny feeling is usually caused by irritation of your mucus membranes, esophagus, or trachea.

If the throat tickle is related to an illness, it usually means you have extra mucus in your throat. And if it’s related to your environment, it means that something outside of your body is causing the issue, like smoke or dust.Usually, throat tickles clear up by themselves within a couple of days. But if they last for a long time, you may want to call a doctor because it could be a sign of something more serious.

How to Get Rid of the Tickle in Your Throat at Home

When you get a tickle in your throat, you can take several steps to help relieve the irritation. However, if you have other symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, a high fever, or chills, this could be a sign of a more severe illness, and you should seek medical attention right away.

7 Home Remedies for a Tickle in Your Throat

• Gargling with a salt and water mix: Combine eight ounces of water with a 1/4 teaspoon of salt, gargle for 30 seconds, and then spit.
• Lozenges: Throat lozenges and hard candies will help produce saliva, keeping your throat moist and helping to relieve a tickle in your throat.
• Use an over-the-counter (OTC) sore throat medication: There are many OTC pain relievers and throat sprays that can help relieve the tickle in your throat.
• Rest: Give your body a break, especially if you think you may be fighting a virus or have other symptoms.
• Drink a lot of fluids: Water and warm beverages, such as herbal teas, are best for a tickle in your throat. Avoid caffeinated or alcoholic drinks because they cause dehydration and worsen the problem.
• Add heat and moisture to your environment: Cold, dry air can cause a tickle in your throat. Try using a humidifier and turning up the heat to ease discomfort and calm your irritated airways.
• Avoid outside triggers: If you know that certain elements cause a tickle in your throat, such as pollen, dust, or smoke, be sure to avoid them.

What's the Cause of a Tickle in Your Throat?

There can be several reasons you may be experiencing a tickle in your throat. Figuring out what’s causing it may be the key to finding a way to get rid of it.

Environmental Factors

People often experience a tickle in their throat after being exposed to:

• dry, cold air
• increased air pollution from chemicals, smoke, or traffic
• cigarette smoke

To reduce the chances of getting a tickle in your throat, do your best to avoid these kinds of external triggers.

Pharyngitis

Pharyngitis is medical terminology for sore throat. It results from an inflammation of the throat. A sore throat can be a cold or strep throat symptom caused by a bacteria or virus in your body.

Laryngitis

When you have a tickle in your throat, it could be a symptom of laryngitis. Another sign that you may have laryngitis is if you lose your voice. That can occur when you've strained the vocal cords because you’ve raised your voice, yelled, or talked louder than usual.

Common Cold

The tickle in your throat may be a symptom of the common cold. The common cold is a virus that will cause symptoms in the upper respiratory system, including your throat. Postnasal drip is often associated with a cold and causes your mucus to drip into the throat, which can cause a tickle. Cold symptoms generally last seven to ten days. A more severe cold that lasts longer could signal a more severe condition like sinusitis or the flu.

Allergies

A tickle in your throat may be related to allergies. People experience allergic reactions to many different environmental elements such as pet dander, pollen, food, medication, mold, bug bites, and more. Allergies happen when the body attempts to guard itself against foreign substances. A tickle in your throat is a symptom that’s common in allergic reactions.

Sinusitis

When postnasal drip causes a tickle in your throat, it could be a sign of sinusitis, especially if any of the following symptoms accompany your itchy throat:

• nasal congestion
• chronic cough
• pressure or pain in the face

Sinusitis is the medical term for sinus infections. Sinus infections typically start as viral infections. A sinus infection can last weeks or months and reoccur multiple times a year. However, they can develop into bacterial or fungal infections over time. You may have a sinus infection if you have common cold symptoms that linger for more than seven to ten days.

Acid Reflux

Stomach acid can cause a tickle in the throat and could be a symptom of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) or acid reflux. In these cases, acid from your stomach may move up the esophagus and cause that tickling feeling. That typically happens if the opening between the stomach and esophagus won't close properly.

These conditions are often caused by eating certain foods, overeating, or lying down right after eating. Mild cases of acid reflux can be treated at home. More frequent occurrences should be brought to your doctor's attention to avoid long-term damage to the esophagus.

Throat Cancer

A tickle in your throat may signal a more severe condition such as throat cancer. Those who drink alcohol, smoke, or have HPV (human papillomavirus) may be at risk.  A tickle in your throat may be a sign of throat cancer when coupled with the following other symptoms:

• lumps near the throat
• changes in the voice
• weight loss

If you think that you may have throat cancer, contact a doctor immediately.

Talk to a Doctor About the Tickle in Your Throat

A tickle in your throat may just be a symptom of dry air or the common cold. However, it can also be something more serious, such as throat cancer.

If you’re worried about the tickle in your throat or the home remedies above haven’t helped, you should talk to a doctor.

You can talk to a state-licensed, board-certified physician from the comfort of your home with Carefree MD. 

For just $17.95/month, you can get unlimited access to talk about your symptoms, get prescriptions sent to your local pharmacy when medically necessary, and receive a personalized treatment plan.

Talk to a doctor about the tickle in your throat when you sign up for a Carefree MD membership today!

The Carefree Dental MD blog is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The text and pictures within the content are intended for information purposes only. Readers should consult with a licensed doctor or healthcare professional before seeking treatment.

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