What Are The Causes Of a Dry Throat: Surprising Reasons You Should Know

The throat is a passageway that transports air to the larynx and delivers food to the esophagus, a hollow tube that connects the throat to the stomach. When saliva production decreases due to internal or external factors, the throat becomes extremely dry. A dry throat can cause excessive thirst, hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing food, loss of thirst, and sore throat.

Various factors, including common flu, dehydration, hay fever, allergies, a dry environment, tonsillitis, strep throat, sleeping with an open mouth, and gastroesophageal reflux disorder, can cause dry throats. So, if you don't want to wake up with a dry throat, learn about these possible causes in detail here and try to avoid them!

What Are The Causes Of Dry Throat?

There are many causes which you may suffer from dry throat, and the most common of them have been mentioned below:

Dehydration

Limited water consumption might cause a dry throat and dehydration. Dehydration can reduce the production of saliva. Remember that saliva is required for proper lubrication and functioning of the throat. Therefore, by reducing saliva production, dehydration results in dry mouth, headache, increased thirst, fever, darker urine, fainting, diarrhea, or vomiting. If you have a dry mouth due to dehydration, drinking more water is one of the best natural remedies to eliminate this condition. Besides that, you can also chew gum without sweeteners, suck ice cubes, or take milk or other dairy products to increase the amount of saliva.

Common Cold and Flu

As the name states, a common cold is extremely common. It is a common virus that can dry, swell, and irritate your throat. These signs usually arise from viral illnesses such as influenza or rhinovirus, which may pass through the nose and spread to the throat. The flu is a nasal ailment. The flu, like the common cold, is caused by a virus. However, flu symptoms are typically more serious than cold ones, and those diagnosed with the flu may require bed rest. Along with a dry throat, a viral infection can result in coughing, sniffling, a blocked or runny nose, and muscle pain.

Sleeping With Open Mouth

Sleeping with your open mouth raises the risk of snoring, resulting in an uncomfortable, dry throat the next morning. Breathing through your mouth could reduce the saliva that usually keeps your throat wet. Nasal congestion may be caused by breathing through the mouth while sleeping. It can also indicate a more serious disease known as obstructive sleep apnea, which causes your breathing to stop frequently during the night. Other symptoms include weariness, increased daytime sleepiness, and throat inflammation.

Dry Environment

Staying in a dry climate is frequently associated with a dry throat. Dry air can reduce moisture in the neck, resulting in a dry, itchy throat. Dryness can also result in a dry cough, post-nasal drip, and snoring. Studies have shown that greater moisture levels in the house are linked with a decreased chance of throat discomfort or irritation. To create an appropriate environment for the throat and avoid dryness, install a humidifier at home and minimize your trips to excessively hot and dry areas.

Hay Fever and Allergies

Hay fever (also called allergic rhinitis) is caused by the body's reaction to allergens reaching your airway, resulting in more mucus production and irritation of the sinuses. The reaction might result in various symptoms, such as dry throat. Some common allergens include grass, pollen, pet hair, mold, dust mites, and particular meals. For people with allergic reactions, these substances stimulate the immune system to discharge histamine, which can cause symptoms such as a cough, congestion in the nose, itchy skin, mouth, or eyes. Struggling with hay fever can be disruptive, but certain medications can help you avoid and manage your symptoms.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD)

Gastroesophageal reflux is a disorder in which foods from the stomach move back up the esophagus, the tube that transports food from your mouth to your stomach. Acid reflux refers to the backing of acid. The acid in the food pipe produces burning, dry throat, sour taste, trouble breathing, dry cough, scratchy voice, and burping. Antacids can be used to dilute stomach acids and treat GERD. Maintaining a healthy weight, choosing flexible clothing, and avoiding spicy, oily foods might also help ease acid reflux symptoms.

Tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is the inflammation of the tonsils, two fleshy bumps in the back of the throat that aid your body combat infections. Tonsillitis can be caused by either viruses (such as rhinovirus or influenza) or bacteria (such as Streptococcus pyogenes). Tonsillitis symptoms may include dry, itchy, or painful throat, swollen tonsils, fever, hoarse voice, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, headache, and struggling breath. Staying hydrated, taking throat lozenges, and soothing can all help to alleviate symptoms.

Overuse of Voice

Excessive use of your voice in a music concert or talking constantly at work if you are a teacher may cause irritation or inflammation in your vocal cords. It can also cause laryngitis. Laryngitis may dry out the throat, triggering various symptoms, including an alteration in voice, loss of voice, throat pain or ache, and dry cough. Symptoms often heal within a few days of complete vocal rest, which includes no speaking, yelling, singing, or whispering.

Strep Throat

Streptococcus pharyngitis, a bacterial infection of the pharynx at the back of the throat, can cause dry throat. Streptococcus pyogenes bugs produce this infection, commonly known as strep throat, which leads to a painful throat, trouble breathing, dehydration, scratchiness or hives, and green to yellow mucous. Symptoms of strep throat include enlarged, red, or white spotty tonsils, fever, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, rash, nausea, vomiting, and bodily pain. Antibiotics, or bacteria-killing medications, are used to treat strep throat.

Conclusion:

Dry throat develops when the salivary glands fail to make enough saliva to keep your mouth and throat dry. There are numerous causes of dry throat. Dehydration and the common cold are causes that can be treated at home and go away within 2 to 4 days. Drinking plenty of water and eating throat lozenges are both beneficial home cures. Other conditions, such as GERD, tonsillitis, and strep throat, need medical attention. It is also crucial to contact a doctor if your dry throat does not recover within a week or worsens with time. The doctor will examine your symptoms and start medication as appropriate.