It started around 4 am and not bad, only aware of it if I swallow or when eating, feels like it is scratched, not soar - first day wearing aligners yesterday, could this be the reason? Hopefully it is not viral... I have been so extremely careful these months and now I am freaking out a bit. Have only gone out for essentials, with mask and gloves. And dentist (last month for cleaning and yesterday to put in aligners) should be safe, they are taking a thousand precautions... sorry, just hoping someone can reassure me. Thanks.

It is probably nothing.
I take the following everyday, a good multivitamin/mineral supplement ( Alive), Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E and Zinc supplements. At the slightest symptom of a sore throat, cold or virus I take a fever reducer like Aleve or Tylenol, as I don't want a fever to take hold. My daughter takes aspirin as she does not want her blood to clot. I am high risk due to age, ethnicity, diabetes,taking public transportation, and working in assisted living. Recently tested for Covid-19 antibodies. Told I have not had Covid to date. I'm sure this is due to my precautions. I also of course wear masks, gloves and wash my hands frequently, and I also keep my blood glucose levels in check.
You can start by taking 75 mg of Zinc - eat something with it bc it's very hard on the stomach. Call your doctor asap and ask about a Zipac and Plaquenil regimen as well. No sense in worrying and I understand that tests are taking 7-10 days to be returned and I would not want whatever you have to get worse. Good luck!
Please do not listen to these recommendations.
How are you doing today? I'm hoping you're doing better.
Gargle with Listerine.
Doesn’t sound like covid but FYI, my whole family got it when we were quarantined and I hadn’t left the house for 3 weeks. DH was the only one going to the store with masks and gloves on, we’d wipe down the food, and he‘d leave shoes outside and change his clothes once he got home. We took every precaution to the max. If we got it, I think everyone’s gonna get it.
Wow, are you all okay? I think you are right that we will eventually all get it.
Yeah we’re fine. It was a light cold, but I knew it was likely the virus when I had bronchitis type wheezing/crackling in my chest since I’m not normally prone to chest infections. It did not start off as a head cold, it went straight to the chest. But If it hadn’t been during a pandemic I would have hardly noticed it. It scared me when my 4-month-old baby got sick but she just coughed for a couple of weeks and is fine.
HOW?? See, I refuse to get this. so basically masks and gloves are useless?
Go get tested. Not just for you, but for everyone you came into contact with so they can plan their lives appropriately.