Swelling Uvula | Swollen Uvula Causes, Natural Treatment and Remedies

The uvula is the soft and conic projection at the base of the mouth cavity. It serves as a filter to anything that enters the mouth, predominantly food and liquids. Because of its functions, it frequently gets in touch with a lot of matter, all of which has the potential to cause its swelling and to harm it.

In some societies, especially in Africa, popular culture dictates the removal of parts of it or the totality of it in the belief that removing it will eliminate all problems associated with its presence. However, this belief does not enjoy the backing of strong scientific findings.

Swollen Uvula Causes

There are any numbers of factors that can cause the swelling in the uvula.

However, the following are the most common reasons:

Colds. At the onset of colds, a person may experience a swelling of the uvula, causing great difficulty in swallowing.
Allergic reactions. Some people may be susceptible to some form of allergens, and being exposed to them makes a person susceptible to developing a swollen uvula.
Viral and bacterial infections. Because of the varied matter that the uvula is exposed to, it is not surprising at all that the swelling is caused by viral and bacterial infections.
Sudden exposure to hot and cold food. When a person accidentally eats a very hot food or drink a hot liquid, the uvula may be scalded. As a reaction to the trauma, it may become swollen. The same thing may happen when the uvula is likewise exposed to very cold foods.

Swollen Uvula Remedies and Treatment

Although a swollen uvula may not be really harmful to the health of a person, it can cause great discomfort especially when swallowing. In some instances, even simple and routine movements of the mouth are enough to trigger pain. In order to treat a swollen uvula, the following interventions are recommended:

Gargle lukewarm water with salt. This is the most common and effective means to get rid of swollen uvula. However, one has to be careful in making sure that one can tolerate the water temperature.
Gargle with water mixed with apple cider vinegar. In doing so, add at least a teaspoon of cider vinegar to a glass of water. For better results, gargle the mixture twice every hour.
For swollen uvula that results from cough and colds, treatment for cough and colds will likewise bring relief to the swollen uvula.

July 18, 2009 | Filed Under Natural Home Remedies

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