Both a swollen tongue and sore throat are medical issues that can bring about a significant level of pain and discomfort. A swollen tongue is usually the result of some type of food or medication allergy, and can sometimes be dangerous if oxygen is blocked from a person's airway. Sore throats are typically not dangerous, but can create an uncomfortable burning sensation for several days.
While a person should get a diagnosis from a doctor if a swollen tongue and sore throat become severe, there are a few treatments that can be done at home for milder cases. Swollen tongue treatments include taking antihistamines, chewing ice chips and eating soft foods. Sore throat treatments include gargling with salt water, throat lozenges and decongestants.
A swollen tongue and sore throat require different treatment strategies, but perhaps one of the best ways to cure a swollen tongue is to take some antihistamines. There are several inexpensive brands available over the counter at most pharmacies that will work. Antihistamines are a good idea because they help to neutralize the problem by reducing the swelling.
Two other solutions involve altering food consumption to ease the symptoms and clear up the problem. Chewing on ice chips is a quick and simple way to soothe the tongue and reduce swelling. Switching to soft foods until symptoms clear up also helps to soothe a swollen tongue. This is beneficial because the tongue won't be as involved in consuming soft foods as it would with normal foods, which require chewing.
One of the best ways to treat a sore throat is to gargle with salt water three or four times a day. This is one of the more traditional techniques, but it is effective nonetheless. It's thought that salt water eases the symptoms by dehydrating and ultimately killing the bacteria within the throat. To make a mixture, a teaspoon (6 g) of salt should be stirred into a small glass of warm water. Then the mixture should be gargled for approximately 30 seconds.
Throat lozenges are another solution for a sore throat. Simply sucking a lozenge is one of the quickest ways to ease the itching and burning sensation. These make dealing with this problem much easier and provide relief while a sore throat runs its course. There are numerous brands and flavors available at most grocery stores and pharmacies.
An additional treatment for a sore throat is taking decongestants. These can be taken in either pill or spray form, and essentially help by minimizing mucus. In turn, this speeds up recovery while providing relief. Also, the individual should drink plenty of water while recovering from a swollen tongue and sore throat.
