17 Best Sore Throat Remedies to Make You Feel Better Fast, According to Doctors

Viruses cause 85% to 95% of throat infections in adults and children under 5, according to Northwestern Medicine, citing the NIH. That means the antibiotics many people ask for won't help most of the time. What does help is comfort care done well. Here are 17 sore throat remedies doctors commonly recommend, plus the signs that mean you shouldn't wait it out.

• 85–95% of throat infections in adults and young children are viral (Northwestern Medicine).
• About 1 in 10 adults with a sore throat has strep throat, versus roughly 3 in 10 children aged 5 to 15 (Medical News Today, citing the CDC).
• About one week is how long a typical viral sore throat takes to clear with rest and care (Northwestern Medicine).
• Under 12 months: no honey, ever, because of botulism risk (Medical News Today).

Because pain level tells you nothing about the cause. A viral sore throat and strep throat can hurt equally. That's why people either rush for antibiotics they don't need or ignore a bacterial infection that does need treatment. Without treatment, strep can raise the risk of rheumatic fever or kidney inflammation in children, per Medical News Today. So treat the symptoms at home, and know when a swab test is worth it.

Warm, soothing drinks

1. Warm water with honey. Honey coats the throat and may calm night-time coughing. Never give it to babies under one.
2. Caffeine-free herbal tea. Warmth relaxes the throat; skip the extra caffeine.
3. Clear broth. Hydration plus a little salt and comfort.
4. Warm lemon water. Pleasant, though it works more as comfort than cure.
5. Plain water, often. Fluids are among the most consistently recommended remedies.

Cold relief

1. Ice chips or ice pops. The cold numbs the pain. Good for children, but avoid hard ice chips for under-4s.

Gargles

1. Salt water gargle. Mix 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, gargle for 15–30 seconds, and spit. Doctors say it helps loosen mucus. Skip it for young children, who swallow it.
2. Baking soda and salt gargle. A quarter-teaspoon of baking soda plus an eighth of a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Don't swallow it.

Moisture and rest

1. A clean humidifier. Dry air makes a raw throat worse. Clean the unit regularly.
2. A steamy shower. Five minutes of warm steam can ease dryness before bed.
3. Voice rest. Yelling or long talking can inflame the throat further.
4. Extra sleep. Rest and care typically clear an ordinary sore throat in about a week.

Over-the-counter relief

1. Lozenges or hard candy. Handy for adults and older children, but not for very young kids because of choking risk.
2. Pain relievers. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as directed on the label, take the edge off pain and fever.
3. Throat sprays. Numbing sprays offer short-term relief when swallowing hurts.

Remove irritants

1. Avoid smoke and strong fumes. Cigarette smoke is a classic cause of lingering throat irritation.
2. Cut back on alcohol and very acidic or spicy food while the throat heals.

Get checked if the throat pain is severe, comes with a fever and no cough, or isn't improving. Medical News Today notes that strep typically brings pain and fever without a cough. A doctor will usually do a quick throat swab. See a doctor promptly for trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy drooling in a young child, a swollen neck, or symptoms lasting well beyond a week.

The best sore throat remedies are cheap and already in your kitchen: warm fluids, a saltwater gargle, honey (for anyone over one), and a humidifier. Combine two or three, rest your voice, and most viral throats settle in about a week. If strep throat looks likely, get tested rather than guessing.