Being sick for the past week (and still coughing out my lungs), i'll give some real advice!
Now, first step, get that damn phlegm to the back of your throat. When you're sick this isn't that hard to do--cough, clear your throat, whatever is necessary.
Second step, do a clear-mouthed cough. What i mean by "clear-mouthed" is that your tongue is down, not obstructing the path from the back of your mouth to the front. In the same way as singers sing from their stomach, cough from your throat. That phlegm should come shooting straight out from the back of your throat. No contact with any of the inner parts of the mouth
