Why does swallowing hurt my throat

You can also gargle saltwater, take an over-the-counter pain reliever, and use a humidifier. This is often caused by mouth trauma, bacteria, stress, diet problems, and other issues. Poor dental hygiene, wisdom teeth, or oral infection can lead to cavities and abscess in your teeth. This can result in pain when you swallow. The best treatment strategy would be to see your dentist check on the impacted tooth. Your dentist might perform a root canal or surgically remove a potential wisdom teeth.

This is pain or swelling that is caused by a viral or bacterial infection of the epiglottis. With epiglottitis , you experience pain during swallowing, vocal changes, fever, and high pitched noise when you breathe.

The treatment of epiglottitis should emphasize opening up your airway and using antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection or symptomatic relief for viral infection. There are plenty of nerves running in your throat, such as the glossopharyngeal nerve. When these nerves are damaged or irritated, it can lead to pain when you swallow.

Fortunately, this can be treated with prescription medications such as gabapentin to block the nerve. If the medicine does not work, you may need to consult with your doctor for possible surgery. Constant cigarette smoking and GERD often cause mouth, esophagus, and throat cancer. Cancer often manifests as a painful lump that can be very bothersome when you swallow.

The proper treatment would include medication, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. You can also go online and video chat with a doctor and obtain a prescription medication that way. The doctor can discuss your symptoms, initiate a physical exam, order the proper lab test, diagnose the condition, and provide the appropriate treatment plan. When it comes to one-sided pain when you swallow, there are various causes to consider. It could be reflux, swollen lymph nodes, postnasal drip, tonsillitis, abscess, laryngitis, and much more.

Poststreptococcal disorder is a group of autoimmune disorders that occur after an infection with the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes. Learn the causes,. Marshmallows are primarily made of sugar, water, and gelatin, and may not do much for a sore throat.

Marshmallow root could, though. It can be hard to tell if you have a sore throat from a virus, or strep throat, which is most often caused by a bacterial infection. The combination of sore throat and chest pain could be a sign of asthma, GERD, lung cancer, or another underlying condition.

Learn more about these…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Causes Complications Other symptoms When to seek help Diagnosis Treatment Outlook We include products we think are useful for our readers. Overview Painful swallowing is relatively common. Causes of painful swallowing. What are possible complications? Other symptoms that may occur if you have an infection. When to call your doctor. Diagnosing the cause of painful swallowing.

Treatment for painful swallowing. What you can do now. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. What Causes Difficulty in Swallowing? Medically reviewed by Sara Minnis, M.

Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. Medically reviewed by Jill Seladi-Schulman, Ph. The following causes can lead to painful swallowing:. Strep throat, epiglottitis, and esophagitis are some possible causes of pain when swallowing. Throat infections are one of the most common causes of pain when swallowing. These include strep throat , which is an infection with Streptococcal bacteria.

Tonsillitis is an infection and inflammation of the tonsils, which are two lymph nodes at the back of the throat. Tonsillitis is a common cause of painful swallowing. Tonsillitis is a contagious condition. Viruses or bacterial infections, including strep throat, can cause tonsillitis.

Epiglottitis is a throat infection that causes inflammation of the epiglottis, which is the flap in the back of the throat that prevents food from going down the windpipe. Yeast infections in the mouth, throat, or food pipe can also lead to discomfort swallowing. Yeast is a type of fungus that can grow out of control if the conditions inside the body change in a way that promotes yeast growth. The food pipe, also called the esophagus, is the pipe that carries food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach.

Esophagitis is inflammation of the esophagus. The most common cause of esophagitis is gastric reflux disease, which is a condition that allows stomach acid to flow back up the food pipe.

Although less common than other causes, an injury to the throat can also lead to pain when swallowing. Eating or drinking something that is too hot can burn the inside of the throat or food pipe. People can also scratch or cut the back of their throat when eating a cracker or chip that has a sharp edge. Depending on the location and extent of the injury, there may only be pain on one side of the throat or further down in the food pipe. A doctor may use a blood test to diagnose pain when swallowing.

An accurate diagnosis is vital to treat pain when swallowing. Doctors may recommend various tests to make a diagnosis. Medication is the standard treatment for certain types of infection. Doctors usually recommend antifungal medications to treat yeast infections and antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, including strep throat. When people have recurring tonsillitis, or it does not respond well to medication, a doctor may recommend removing the tonsils in a procedure called a tonsillectomy.