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Is this cause for concern?

A dry, scratchy throat is a common symptom — especially during the cold winter months when the air is dry and upper respiratory infections are spreading. Usually, a dry throat is a sign of something minor, like dryness in the air or a head cold.

Looking at your other symptoms can help you figure out the cause of your dry throat, and know whether to call your doctor. Keep reading to learn more.

1.     Dehydration

The dryness in your throat may simply be a sign that you haven’t had enough to drink. When you’re dehydrated, your body doesn’t produce as much of the saliva that normally moistens your mouth and throat.

Dehydration can also cause:

·         dry mouth

·         increased thirst

·         darker urine, and less urine than usual

·         fatigue

·         dizziness

Treatment options

Drink extra fluids during the day. Recommendations on how much to drink vary, but a good average is 15.5 cups of fluid for men and 11.5 cups of fluid for women.

You get about 20 percent of this fluid from fruits, vegetables, and other foods.

Make sure you’re drinking fluids that hydrate, such as water or sports drinks. You should avoid caffeinated sodas and coffee, which can cause your body to lose more water.

2.     Sleeping with your mouth open

If you wake up every morning with a dry mouth, the problem might be that you sleep with your mouth open. The air dries up the saliva that normally keeps your mouth and throat moist.

Mouth breathing can also cause:

·         bad breath

·         snoring

·         daytime fatigue

Snoring could be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which your breathing pauses over and over again throughout the night.

Congestion from a cold or chronic allergies, or a problem with your nasal passages like a deviated septum, can also lead to mouth breathing.

Treatment options

If you have a sinus or congestion problem, apply an adhesive strip to the bridge of your nose to keep your nose open while you sleep.

For obstructive sleep apnea, your doctor can prescribe an oral appliance that repositions your jaw, or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy to keep air flowing into your airways during the night.

3.     Hay fever or allergies

Hay fever, also called seasonal allergies, is caused by an immune system overreaction to normally harmless substances in your environment.

Common allergy triggers include:

·         grass

·         pollen

·         pet dander

·         mold

·         dust mites

When your immune system senses one of your triggers, it releases chemicals called histamines.

This can lead to symptoms like:

·         stuffed, runny nose

·         sneezing

·         itchy eyes, mouth, or skin

·         cough

Congestion in your nose may make you breathe through your mouth, which can dry out your throat. The extra mucus can also drip down the back of your throat, called postnasal drip. This can make your throat feel sore.

Treatment options

To prevent allergy symptoms, avoid your triggers as much as possible. It may be helpful to:

·         Stay indoors with the windows closed and the air conditioning on during the peak of allergy season.

·         Put dust mite-proof covers on your bed.

·         Wash your sheets and other bedding weekly in hot water.

·         Vacuum your carpets and dust your floors to pick up dust mites.

·         Clean up any mold in your house.

·         Keep pets out of your bedroom.

You can also control allergy symptoms with these treatments:

·         antihistamines

·         decongestants

·         allergy shots

·         eye allergy drops

4.     Cold

A cold is a common infection that’s caused by many different viruses. The infection can make your throat feel dry and scratchy.

You’ll also have symptoms like these:

·         stuffed, runny nose

·         sneezing

·         cough

·         body aches

·         mild fever

Treatment options

Most colds take a few days to run their course. Antibiotics won’t treat a cold, because they only kill bacteria — not viruses.

To help you feel better while your body gets over the cold, try these remedies:

·         Take an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to relieve a sore throat and body aches.

·         Suck on a throat lozenge.

·         Drink warm liquids, such as broth and hot tea.

·         Gargle with a mixture of warm water and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

·         Use a decongestant nasal spray to relieve a stuffed nose.

·         Drink extra fluids to keep your mouth and throat moist and prevent dehydration.

·         Get plenty of rest.

·         Turn on a humidifier to moisten the air in your room.

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