When you reach your late teens or early twenties, chances are your third molars will erupt. In many cases, wisdom teeth are impacted or grow at an odd angle, which leads to painful symptoms. Hence, your dentist might recommend wisdom teeth extraction to save you from all the discomfort. While you wait for the empty socket to heal, there are a few aftercare instructions you’ll have to follow, including a soft food diet. Sometimes, you may find food stuck in your wisdom tooth hole, which can lead to complications. Continue reading this blog to learn how to get rid of the trapped food particles.
How to Get Rid of Food Stuck in Your Wisdom Tooth Hole?
If you find food stuck in your wisdom tooth hole, fight the urge to dig it out with your fingers or something sharp. Otherwise, you may dislocate the blood clot and disturb the recovery. Contacting your emergency dentist is the best way to go. In case you can’t go to the dentist immediately, try the following:
- Saltwater Rinses
In the first 24 hours following the extraction, you should avoid rinsing your mouth as it can disturb the blood clot. You can use a saltwater rinse if the wisdom tooth hole traps food particles. Be careful not to spit the water out or swish it roughly in your mouth, and you will be good to go! - Syringe Filled With Warm Water
Another effective way to get rid of the food stuck in your wisdom tooth hole is to use a sterile syringe filled with lukewarm water. Point the syringe at an angle that the water flows in the direction of the socket to gently dislodge the food. Other than this, you can use a spray bottle if you do not have a syringe; make sure to remain cautious. - Water Flosser
Ask your dentist if you can use a water flosser, as they might suggest using it after a few weeks. If your dentist deems it safe, use the water flosser in low settings and loosen the food stuck in the wisdom tooth hole with the help of the water stream. - Herbal Tea
Did you know that you can use herbal tea to flush out food particles? Yes! You can use lukewarm herbal tea like you would use a saltwater rinse. Therefore, you may use chamomile tea, green tea, and even turmeric tea to get rid of the debris, as they have anti-inflammatory properties that help with wisdom tooth recovery as well. Again, make sure not to swish aggressively or spit out the herbal tea! - Mouthwash
Using a mouthwash might be effective, too; just ask your dentist if it is safe to use first. This is because it is not advised to use mouthwash the first day after surgery, so your dentist might suggest a mild alternative. Keep in mind, like other liquids, to be gentle when removing food stuck in the wisdom tooth hole with mouthwash.
What’s Next?
Do you have food stuck in your wisdom tooth hole? There are many ways to get rid of it. The best thing to do, however, is to visit our Village Park Family Dental team at 12617 Louetta Rd Suite #204, Cypress, TX 77429. You can also talk to our dental team at (281) 376-4444.