How To Get Your Voice Back Quickly When You Have Laryngitis

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HealthlineSubscribeRemedies to Get Your Voice Back Fast

Medically reviewed by Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP — Written by Corinne O'Keefe Osborn — Updated on January 30, 2024

Rest
Avoid whispering
Pain relievers
Medication
Warm liquids
Gargling
Lozenges
Hot shower
Humidifier
Avoid irritants
Avoid smoke
Avoid alcohol
Diet changes
Causes
Get help
FAQ
Takeaway

Resting your voice, gargling with salt water, using a humidifier, and drinking warm beverages may help soothe your larynx and restore your voice.

Treating laryngitis and getting your voice back involves treating the inflammation and irritation in your voice box.

Here are some methods to try.

Rest your voice

Resting your voice is the single most important factor in healing laryngitis and other reasons for losing your voice. Irritation and inflammation need time to resolve, and avoiding using your voice gives your vocal cords the chance to recover.

Try not to talk for a day or so; if you must speak, use your typical volume.

Avoid whispering

You might be surprised to learn that whispering can make a lost voice worse, and you should avoid doing it when your voice is hoarse.

When you whisper, your vocal cords are pulled tight and cannot vibrate, which puts extra strain on them. Instead of whispering, use a “confidential voice” or a natural voice at a low volume.

Shouting and singing can also put extra strain on your voice.

Use OTC pain relievers

If a sore throat or laryngitis has made you lose your voice, an over-the-counter pain reliever may help relieve inflammation and make you more comfortable if your throat hurts.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve), can help reduce pain and swelling, which may help improve your symptoms.

Talk with a doctor about prescription medication

If you lose your voice due to an infection or other health condition, a doctor may prescribe medication to help you recover or relieve your symptoms. This can include:

antibiotics, if caused by a bacterial infection
antifungals, if caused by a fungal infection
medications like expectorants to break up mucus
antihistamines, if caused by allergic postnasal drip
proton pump inhibitors or other treatments, if caused by acid reflux

Corticosteroids are prescription medications that help reduce inflammation. If your work depends on your ability to talk or sing, a doctor may consider prescribing a short course of steroids to speed up healing. This can depend on the underlying cause of your symptoms.

But they should not be used as a way to get around voice rest, even if your work depends on it, as they can mask symptoms and cause more damage in the long run.

Note that corticosteroids have side effects, including throat and nose irritation, and should not be routinely prescribed. They may not be suitable for everyone.

Drink warm liquids

Drinking plenty of fluids is always recommended when you’re healing from laryngitis. Laryngitis often occurs due to a viral infection, so resting and drinking plenty of fluids will help you recover as quickly as possible.

Warm liquids may help soothe your irritated throat, keep your airways moisturized, and thin out mucus. Try sipping warm liquids like:

tea with honey
broth
soup

Avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee and black tea, which can lead to dehydration. If skipping your morning coffee is out of the question, replenish your fluids with water or herbal tea.

Gargle salt water

Gargling warm salt water may help treat laryngitis by keeping your throat moist and relieving inflammation.

Add 1 teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water and try gargling two or three times per day until your voice returns.

Use lozenges

Sucking on a throat lozenge increases your saliva production, which can help keep your throat moist.

Try a lozenge containing honey, which has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Breathe in steam

The steam can help moisten your vocal cords and soothe your throat. You can try inhaling steam by:

taking a hot shower or bath
boiling water or making tea and carefully inhaling over it
visiting a steam room

Inhaling warm steam several times a day may help reduce hoarseness and clear the vocal cords of sticky secretions that cause laryngitis symptoms.

If you’re taking a shower or bath, be sure to use water that’s warm enough to create steam but not so hot it burns your skin.

Try using a humidifier

Inhaling humidified steam can keep your upper airways moisturized and remove secretions around your vocal cords that cause you to lose your voice.

Try using a humidifier throughout the day and while you sleep when experiencing laryngitis symptoms or when the air is dry.

Avoid irritants

Environmental irritants, such as pollution from traffic, smog, wildfire smoke, chemicals, and pesticides, can lead to irritation and damage to your throat and airways. If you have other health conditions, such as asthma, allergies, or COPD, you may be at a greater risk for complications from pollution.

You may be able to avoid irritants by staying indoors when the air outside reaches unhealthy levels.

You may be able to improve the air quality in your home by:

opting for nontoxic cleaning products
using an air purifier
keeping your windows closed when air quality outdoors is unhealthy

Avoid smoking, if you smoke

Smoke is an irritant, and smoking is commonly linked to throat inflammation. Anyone healing from laryngitis should avoid smoking and stay out of smoky environments if possible. You can try taking a few days off if you’re a regular smoker or vaper.

If you’re unable to quit nicotine right away, consider using a nicotine patch or other smoking cessation aid. Quitting smoking can be difficult, and a doctor can help develop a cessation plan that works for you.

Avoid alcohol

Alcohol is an irritant that can dry out your throat, which could worsen laryngitis symptoms.

Drinking alcohol may also delay healing, so avoiding it is recommended when trying to get your voice back.

Make diet changes

If your loss of voice is due to acid reflux, you can make some dietary changes to avoid foods and beverages that can worsen your symptoms. Foods and drinks to avoid may include:

high fat foods
acidic foods
chocolate
caffeine
garlic
chewing gum

Some eating plans may also help improve symptoms of acid reflux.

What causes loss of voice?

Voice loss often happens due to acute laryngitis. Laryngitis occurs when your larynx (voice box) becomes irritated and inflamed. Viral infections, like the common cold, cause most cases of laryngitis.

Other causes of voice loss can include:

vocal fold hemorrhage
nodules
muscle tension dysphonia
spasmodic dysphonia

You can also irritate your voice box when you overuse your voice — like when yelling at a sports game or concert — or from exposure to environmental irritants like pollution and smoke.

Acid reflux can also irritate your throat, leading to laryngitis.

Inflammation of the voice box

Your voice box contains your vocal cords. When you talk, your vocal cords open and close smoothly. As air passes through them, they vibrate to make sounds.

When your vocal cords are swollen or inflamed, your voice becomes distorted and may sound hoarse, raspy, or too quiet to hear.

Laryngitis typically heals on its own and lasts less than 3 or 4 weeks. However, it can sometimes become chronic (long lasting).

When to get help

Laryngitis doesn’t usually require treatment. Viral infection often causes it, so antibiotics typically won’t help. Symptoms tend to clear up on their own within 3 to 7 days.

If your job depends on your voice, however, a doctor may be willing to prescribe corticosteroids to decrease inflammation.

If your laryngitis symptoms last longer than 2 weeks or are very painful and you have trouble swallowing, you may need medical care. You may have chronic laryngitis or laryngitis caused by acid reflux.

A doctor can perform a physical exam and recommend a specialist if necessary.

Frequently asked questions

The following includes common questions about how to get your voice back.

How can I cure my lost voice fast?

Some natural remedies to help you recover your lost voice include resting your voice, drinking warm liquids, using lozenges, and inhaling steam, among other remedies. That said, medical treatment may be required to treat a lost voice that is caused by an underlying health condition.

How can I get my voice back in 5 minutes?

Depending on the cause, you may be able to get your voice back quickly by drinking warm water, breathing in humid air, or gargling salt water. In some cases, you may need to rest your voice for longer or get medical treatment.

How long does it take to get my voice back?

How long it takes to get your voice back depends on the underlying cause. For example, if you lose your voice due to laryngitis, it could take 3-7 days or longer to get it back. That said, vocal rest, drinking warm liquids, and breathing in steam may help you get it back quicker.

Takeaway

You can typically relieve voice loss at home by resting your voice, staying hydrated, and avoiding irritants. You can also try inhaling steam and using a humidifier to soothe your throat and voice box. A doctor may recommend speech therapy if your lost voice results from causes like vocal nodules or dysphonia.

If you experience other symptoms along with losing your voice, a doctor may recommend other medications or other therapies to treat the cause.

Laryngitis typically clears up on its own, but if it does not, it may be best to speak with a doctor.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Gupta G, et al. (2022). Acute laryngitis.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534871/
Hoarseness. (2018).https://www.enthealth.org/conditions/hoarseness/
House A, et al. (2017). Hoarseness in adults.https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/1201/p720.html
Jette M, et al. (2016). The human laryngeal microbiome: Effects of cigarette smoke and reflux.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5075886/
Laryngitis. (2023).https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/ears-nose-and-throat/laryngitis
Laryngitis. (2020).https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/laryngitis/
Saliva & salivary gland disorders. (2023).https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/saliva-salivary-gland-disorders

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Medically reviewed by Nicole Leigh Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP — Written by Corinne O'Keefe Osborn — Updated on January 30, 2024

How To Get Your Voice Back Quickly When You Have Laryngitis

Rest your voice

Avoid whispering

Use OTC pain relievers

Talk with a doctor about prescription medication

Drink warm liquids

Gargle salt water

Use lozenges

Breathe in steam

Try using a humidifier

Avoid irritants

Avoid smoking, if you smoke

Avoid alcohol

Make diet changes

What causes loss of voice?

Inflammation of the voice box

When to get help

Frequently asked questions

How can I cure my lost voice fast?

How can I get my voice back in 5 minutes?

How long does it take to get my voice back?

Takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

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