Whether you are a professional singer or not, you want to keep your voice healthy.
So, how to clear your throat to sing better? How to keep your voice healthy?
The rule of thumb is to hydrate your throat. You can use some medicine approaches to deal with your sore throat. Besides, it would be best to avoid unhealthy food that may harm your vocal cords.
This article will give you more tips to make the best of your singing.
Let’s read on to discover!
How To Clear Your Throat To Sing Better?
Throat clearing isn’t about doing something directly on your throat. Instead, you can try these methods to hydrate it while still making it healthy.
#1. Water
Drinking water is the simplest method for throat clearing.
Water will help moisten and lubricate your throat if you drink it two hours before you perform. The water’s lubrication can aid in avoiding irritation, ensuring that your voice is ready to perform.
Before your performance, drink just water at room temperature water. The muscles of the throat involved in singing will stiffen if the water is too cold. If the water is overly hot, it might lead to a rise in mucus production.
The quality and tone of your voice depend on the cavities. Your singing will sound awful if they tighten or get blocked with mucus.
Sipping the fresh, room temperature water is the best possible way to get the most out of it. Swallowing causes your vocal cords to tilt back.
The motion of your throat helps to eliminate mucus from your voice box. It will improve the clarity of your singing.
You can place your fingertips in the center of your throat and sip some water to feel the movement of the voice box.
#2. Dry swallow
This method is simple, and you can do it right before you sing.
You could feel as though a frog gets stuck in your throat. Then, close your mouth and swallow some saliva to execute a dry swallow.
Dry swallowing helps move your voice cords around and clear the mucus that is most likely going bad.
If dry swallowing does not really work for you, try softly panting, then shutting your lips and swallowing for a similar effect.
#3. Lozenge
Sore throat is terrible for your singing. It hinders your voice from performing at its best.
In this case, you can numb or soothe your sore throat with a throat lozenge. Trying to suck on anything also helps keep your vocal cords moistened by increasing saliva production.
Honey has inherent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities so that you can go for a honey lozenge.
If you have a terrible sore throat, this video can help. It introduces some homemade recipes and explains how each option can heal your soreness.
#4. Humidifier
During the nighttime, your throat gradually dries out. As you sleep, the saliva production reduces, and bacteria accumulate in your mouth, making morning breath.
When your throat and mouth become dry, the voice box might become irritated much more.
While sleeping, utilizing a humidifier can help you avoid this problem and get the most out of your recovery phase.
#5. Hot shower
A hot shower will help to moisturize your vocal cords and relieve a sore throat. Applying a calming essential oil, such as eucalyptus, may also be beneficial.
First, rub your hands together with a drop of essential oil. Then, bring your palms to your face under the shower and take a deep inhale.
You may also prepare a bouquet for the shower. The steam can extract the therapeutic essential oil if you place some raw eucalyptus from the showerhead. It will also give your room a spa-like scent.
#6. Saltwater
Warm, salty water relieves laryngitis—salt aids in the recovery of irritated tissues.
You can clear your throat by gargling with a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water many times each day.
#7. Chewing gum
Gum chewing also stimulates saliva production. You can chew gum every day to make your vocal cords constantly moist.
To prevent unnecessary calories, chew sugar-free gum. There are also specialized gums that can relieve dry mouth. You can easily find them at any local pharmacy.
Extra Tips For Throat Clearing
The methods above have a direct impact on your singing before a performance. Besides, there are some other tips you can try for long-term effects.
#1. No caffeine
Caffeine will irritate your vocal cords. If you don’t consume coffee, your voice can sound a lot clearer.
#2. No alcohol
Alcohol, just like caffeine, strains and dehydrates your larynx as well as vocal cords. Avoiding alcohol is the most fantastic way to keep your voice clean and fresh.
Alcohol is the irritant that promotes excessive mucus development, making it harder to clear your voice.
For every alcoholic you take, you should drink an extra cup of water.
#3. No spicy food
Spicy dishes can create an overabundance of acid in your stomach, causing acid reflux. Acid might aggravate the muscles that you use to sing.
If you don’t yet have acid reflux, consuming spicy food is usually acceptable. Just remember to stay away from it for a few days before your performance.
#4. No smoking
Take some days off if you’re a frequent smoker. Smoking irritates your throat, and nicotine inhibits recovery. If you can’t give up nicotine immediately, nicotine gum seems to be the best alternative.
#5. No coughing
Although it may seem complicated when you’re sick, remember that coughing will just make your voice harsh. It puts a lot of strain on your throat and causes your already sore voice chords to crash.
Even though there are various cough suppressing drugs available, hydration can assist best in reducing coughing.
#6. No dairy
There is no evidence that milk products promote phlegm form. However, consuming too much dairy might thicken the mucus currently existing in your airways, affecting your singing badly.
It can help avoid dairy drinks if your voice has a nasal tone or if you have trouble elevating your vocal folds for high notes.
Before your performance, we recommend skipping the milk and replacing it with water, which moisturizes your vocal cords and boosts tone quality.
#7. Ginger
Many people have used ginger as a natural cure for breathing issues. For centuries, people have used ginger for its therapeutic benefits.
Ginger can assist with a dry, unpleasant cough caused by laryngitis. It can also aid in the relief of congestion and the treatment of sore throats.
#8. Garlic
Garlic is another foodstuff that can help treat and prevent a range of diseases.
Garlic has antibacterial and perhaps antiviral effects. So, garlic consumption may prevent the occurrence of several upper respiratory diseases.
#9. Honey
Honey has also worked as medicine by humans throughout history.
Honey can help with coughing and mucus production thanks to its antioxidant and antibacterial impacts.
Honey can stop a cough as good as or even better than cough suppression medications like dextromethorphan.
How To Avoid Throat Irritation?
Any discomfort in the larynx might prevent a successful performance from the singer. The more you know about minimizing throat issues, the better you will be.
Here are some of the techniques to stay away from those bothersome irritants:
#1. Breath support
To avoid damaging the voice when singing long and loud, we must apply for appropriate breath support.
Always keep track of how much air is necessary for each line. Also, hold back and don’t let all the air out at once while exhaling air when singing.
#2. Warm-up before singing
Warming up your voice properly prepares it for singing and helps prevent injury to the vocal cords. It’s best to set aside ten to fifteen minutes.
#3. Rest
You should rest your voice if you notice indications of vocal abuse. If possible, stop singing or even speaking.
It would be best if you allowed time for the vocal bands to relax and recover. Otherwise, you’ll irritate your throat even more.
Drink plenty of water and warm lemonade with honey to soothe your throat. Fresh lemons are the finest and may provide quicker healing.
#4. Health protection
Your voice goes strong if you use enough power while singing. A weak vocalist can’t pull off every note correctly.
As a result, try to stay healthy. Your throat won’t suffer from any issues as long as you have good health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about throat clearing. Check them carefully since you may have the same problems in the future.
1. What makes vocal cords stop working?
When one or even both of your vocal cords can’t function normally, you can call it “paralysis.” The damage to your voice cords’ nerves, which can arise from excessive swelling or irritation, causes this problem.
Paralysis isn’t a common issue. It results from head or neck trauma. Sometimes, neurological illnesses may cause the same problem.
2. What causes continuous mucus in my throat?
Mucus in the throat is most commonly a result of viruses and colds. If the symptoms last longer than two weeks, you should seek medical attention.
3. Why do I always clear my throat?
If you find yourself clearing your throat too frequently, it might be due to habit. After a cold, some people have a habit of cleaning their throats even when the mucus is no longer there.
4. What should I eat to keep my singing voice in good shape?
A nutritious diet may benefit every part of your life, including your voice.
A healthy diet should be well-balanced, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, and lean meats. These foods will provide you with the strength and stamina that vocalists require.
You should avoid dairy products since they can stiffen mucus and cause clogging.
5. How can I strengthen my vocal cords?
There are several ways to accomplish this objective:
- By using a regular, effective vocal technique, you may enhance your vocal cords.
- Before reaching high notes, it’s critical to warm up your voice.
- Staying hydrated is also essential.
- After long training sessions or concerts, give your voice a break.
Final Words
There are many ways to clear your throat when you have some problems with your vocal cords. Besides, you can also follow extra tips to help your throat stay healthy all the time.
The ultimate rule is to keep your vocal cords relaxed and avoid foodstuff that may ruin your singing.
The above article has provided you with useful knowledge. We hope that you have answered your questions through our sharing. Thank you for reading!
