Right Side Sore Throat When Swallowing: Causes & Treatment

Key takeaways:

• A sore throat on the right side when swallowing may indicate an infection or a physical abnormality.
• In some cases, a sore throat on the right side when swallowing may require a minor surgical procedure for improvement.
• Talk to your doctor if home remedies fail or if your right-sided sore throat lasts over five to seven days.

A sore throat can be an early warning sign that you might get sick or something else is wrong. The scratchy and uncomfortable sensation or pain can make swallowing or breathing difficult. Although they can vary in severity, a sore throat that only affects the right side may be a cause for concern.

There are several potential causes of a right-sided sore throat when swallowing, including infections, chronic health conditions, and even allergies. This article will outline the possible reasons for this condition, explain when it’s important to seek medical evaluation and treatment, and provide tips on improving your health at home.

Why throat pain is on the right side only when swallowing

Swallowing is a complex process that requires the coordination of muscles and nerves, along with both innate reflexes and conscious control. Dysphagia refers to difficulty swallowing, while odynophagia refers to pain or discomfort while swallowing. These two conditions can occur at the same time.

If you are only experiencing pain in your throat on the right side, consider what is on that side of your mouth and throat. While the pain may be due to an infection or allergies, it is important to consider that the cause of your discomfort while swallowing might be something more serious.

Causes of right-side throat pain when swallowing

Difficulty or pain when swallowing can stem from issues in your mouth, throat, esophagus, or stomach. There are three phases to swallowing:

1. Oral (mouth)
2. Pharyngeal (back of throat)
3. Esophageal

Your right-sided throat pain could be related to one or more of these phases. Other symptoms might clue you into the root cause of your throat pain.

Infection

The most common cause of a sore throat is a viral infection, which bacteria, fungi, or yeast can also cause. The most frequent bacterial infection results from Streptococcus pyogenes, which causes strep throat.

A sore throat on the right side may also be due to tonsillitis or an infection surrounding the right tonsil, known as quinsy or a peritonsillar abscess. A peritonsillar abscess often comes with trismus (difficulty opening the mouth) and ear pain. This sort of infection can require surgical drainage.

Other infections that may occur on the right side of your throat may include:

• Severe tooth infection or abscess
• Salivary gland infections or stones can affect the salivary glands, which include the parotid and submandibular glands.
• Laryngitis or voice box infection

Allergies and allergic rhinitis

You may have a sore throat when swallowing from allergies because of throat irritation caused by postnasal drainage. The sore throat may also result from exposure to pollens, dust, dust mites, cockroaches, chemicals, toxins, or smoke.

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), ulcers, and food getting stuck in your throat

Acid reflux, also known as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), occurs when stomach acid flows back into the throat and esophagus. This can lead to irritation, a burning sensation, and pain while swallowing.

The resulting inflammation may cause symptoms such as redness, swelling, hoarseness, and a persistent cough. Additionally, a sore throat on the right side may also occur if food gets stuck or if someone chokes on a small fish or chicken bone.

Swallowing disorders

You may have a right-sided sore throat because you have a swallowing disorder. These are uncommon but possible. Examples of disorders that can cause issues with swallowing include:

• Central nervous system disorders such as a stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, or others.
• Muscular disorders such as muscular dystrophies or polymyositis
• Neuropathic disorders which may affect how you speak and swallow
• Endocrine disorders such as thyroid disease
• Taking various medicines that decrease your ability to swallow or cause dryness or irritation
• A result of surgery like tonsillectomy (having your tonsils removed)

Neoplasia

Neoplasia refers to the abnormal growth of cells or tissues. This growth can be classified as either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Most abnormal growths cause additional signs and symptoms, which may include excessive phlegm, bleeding, fatigue, and weight loss.

How to get relief from right-side throat pain when swallowing

Difficulty swallowing can be problematic, especially if it's accompanied by pain in the right side of your throat. Fortunately, many home remedies effectively alleviate this discomfort. It's important to understand the reason for the right-sided pain when swallowing, as this will help you identify the best approaches to improve your health.

Warm salt water gargles

Mix ¼ to ½ teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water, then gently swish and gargle. Rinsing and gargling your mouth several times a day may soothe your throat and improve swallowing.

Throat lozenges, hard candies, and sprays

Throat lozenges, hard candies, and throat sprays can temporarily relieve a sore throat and help with swallowing.

Hot beverages or cold or frozen treats

Depending on your symptoms, your sore throat can improve with hot beverages like tea with honey or cold or frozen treats. Drinking plenty of fluids will help, too.

Dietary modification

If you’re having difficulty swallowing, consider trying foods with a thicker consistency, like pudding, mashed potatoes, cooked cereals, and purees. It’s best to stick to soft foods like meatloaf, baked beans, and casseroles rather than chewy foods that may have sharp edges.

Oral hygiene

A sore throat on the right side, especially when swallowing, may be caused by reduced saliva production and the accumulation of debris in the mouth or throat. Good oral hygiene, including regular tooth brushing and using mouthwash, can help relieve a sore throat and improve swallowing.

When you should see a doctor about right-side throat pain when swallowing

Most sore throats are merely an annoyance for a few days. But, if you have right-sided throat pain when swallowing, it may be time to seek medical attention, especially if you have additional signs and symptoms.

You should see a doctor if:

• Your sore throat comes with a fever over 1010F.
• You have difficulty keeping food or drink down.
• You experience other symptoms, like right ear pain, trismus (jaw pain with opening your mouth), or a thick, muffled voice (“hot potato voice”).
• You notice a neck mass or drainage.
• You experience unexplained weight loss.

You should go to the emergency room if:

• You experience chest or abdominal pain.
• You have trouble breathing or make unusual sounds when breathing.
• You are coughing or vomiting up blood or excessive phlegm.
• You experience neck stiffness or believe you may have an airway obstruction.

Questions to ask your doctor about right-side throat pain when swallowing

• What is causing my throat pain while swallowing?
• What can make my right-sided throat pain when swallowing go away?
• Am I contagious? If so, for how long?
• Should I have tests or X-rays to find out what is wrong?
• Do I need my tonsils out?

How a doctor may help treat right-side throat pain when swallowing

Your doctor will ask you questions to gather a detailed history of your right-sided throat pain, especially when you swallow. A thorough physical examination will be necessary, and your doctor may also order tests such as blood work, throat cultures, or imaging studies like a CT scan.

Antibiotics

If a bacterial infection is causing your symptoms, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. These medicines will eliminate the cause of the infection and shorten the duration of your sore throat.

Corticosteroids

In some cases, your doctor might prescribe corticosteroids such as prednisone or dexamethasone. These medications can relieve your right-sided sore throat when swallowing by reducing inflammation caused by infections or other factors.

Anti-reflux medicines

These medications are stronger than over-the-counter options. They help prevent acid reflux and promote throat healing, which improves swallowing.

Surgical procedures

You may have a collection of pus due to an infection, such as a dental abscess or a peritonsillar abscess, which might need treating with incision and drainage. After the procedure, you can expect improvement in your right-sided sore throat and better swallowing.

Frequently asked questions: right-side throat pain when swallowing

Since your sore throat is affecting only one side and making it difficult to swallow, you may have additional questions for your doctor.

What if you feel right-side throat pain when swallowing every day?

If you experience right-sided throat pain when swallowing that lasts for more than a few days, it could be a sign of a more serious issue beyond postnasal drainage. It's important to seek medical attention to determine the underlying cause of your discomfort so you can find relief.

How long can right-side throat pain last?

The duration of right-sided throat pain while swallowing depends on its underlying cause. Your symptoms might last only a few days or persist for weeks. If any symptoms continue for an extended period, it's important to seek medical evaluation to ensure there is no infection or a more serious issue.

What if you experience right-side-only throat pain when swallowing air, not just food?

Swallowing involves a complex coordination of muscles, nerves, and reflexes. If you experience pain on the right side of your throat when swallowing air (but not food), it may suggest an underlying issue on that side of your throat that is not easily identifiable. This discomfort could be due to an infection, an abnormal growth of tissue, or a lack of coordination among the muscles in your throat or esophagus.

Final thoughts on ride side sore throat when swallowing

Many factors can cause a sore throat on the right side when swallowing, including infection, allergies, acid reflux, and swallowing disorders. Luckily, most sore throats respond well to home remedies or prescription medications. However, in some instances, a right-sided sore throat may necessitate a medical evaluation and less commonly a surgical procedure to improve swallowing.

General Medicine follows a strict editorial process, including using real experts to write our articles, vetted primary sources, fact-checking, a secondary medical review, and updates as necessary. This article was medically reviewed and fact checked by Dr. Jennifer Nadel, MD.

Sources

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Sykes, Edward A, et al. “Pharyngitis: Approach to diagnosis and treatment.” Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien vol. 66,4 (2020): 251-257, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32273409/.

Barer, D H. “The natural history and functional consequences of dysphagia after hemispheric stroke.” Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry vol. 52,2 (1989): 236-41. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.52.2.236.

Freire, G S M et al. “Peritonsillar abscess: epidemiology and relationship with climate variations.” The Journal of laryngology and otology vol. 131,7 (2017): 627-630. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022215117000895.