Methods for alleviating sore throat conditions and related compositions. In some such compositions, at least one non-hexose sugar alcohol and/or at least one non-hexose sugar alcohol precursor may be present in a concentration effective for reducing a concentration of sore-throat causing microorganisms in a patients throat. The composition may further comprise at least one coating agent in a concentration effective for prolonging the presence of the at least one non-hexose sugar alcohol and/or at least one non-hexose sugar alcohol precursor in a patients throat to treat the sore throat condition.
