Wisdom tooth extraction may sound scary, but it’s a great solution for a molar growing at a weird angle. Even for an impacted tooth, extraction is the best way to eliminate the pain. Although, post-extraction aftercare is what truly matters. For instance, once the wisdom tooth is removed, you are left with an empty socket, which could easily turn into a food trap if you’re not careful.
You might be tempted to munch on your favorite snack, only for it to get trapped inside the hole. But then, how do you get out the food stuck in your wisdom tooth hole? To find out, carry on reading.
Reasons Why Wisdom Teeth Need to be Removed
First things first, not everyone has to undergo a wisdom tooth extraction. It’s only an option if the tooth is disrupting your oral health, risking the rest of the teeth. Not to mention, wisdom tooth extraction is a last resort. People often rely on painkillers to push through the pain and wait until the tooth fully erupts. Mentioned below are a few more reasons why your dentist might suggest a tooth extraction surgery.
- Swollen and tender gums around the affected tooth.
- Dental abscess formation.
- Excessive tooth decay.
- Unbearable pain.
- Difficulty moving jaw.
- Impacted tooth.
- Gum diseases
What Happens if Food Gets Stuck in Wisdom Tooth Hole?
Surprisingly enough, it’s pretty common for tiny food particles to get stuck between the folds of an empty tooth socket. However, it isn’t something to worry about. Usually, all it takes is a few swishes of water for the food remains to wash away. But if the bits and pieces are too stubborn, you might need to try an alternative method.
Keep in mind, though, that using toothpicks or any other appliance to fish out the stuck food item is not ideal. In fact, you shouldn’t even touch it with your bare fingers as that could risk bacterial contamination and dislodge the blood clot.
How to Get Food out of Wisdom Tooth Hole?
The best way to deal with the food stuck in your wisdom tooth hole is by consulting a dentist or trying some of the safe techniques listed below:
- Carefully rinse your mouth with a lukewarm saltwater solution. Make sure to swish the water around, letting the pressure pull out the food remain.
- If saltwater doesn’t work well, you can try the same technique with an antiseptic and alcohol-free mouthwash.
- Try gargling with herbal tea to soothe the ache and dislodge the stuck food.
- Use a specialized water flosser to manually flush out any debris trapped inside the wisdom tooth hole.
- Utilize a cotton swab to gently brush away the lingering food remains, especially if stuck on the outside of the socket.
- Get an empty syringe, fill it with lukewarm water, and then shoot it directly at the empty socket with pressure, flushing it clean.
- Make use of a dental spray bottle and squeeze it hard with the nozzle pointed at the wisdom tooth hole.
Final Takeaway
It’s pretty normal for food to get stuck in the wisdom tooth hole, but it’s how you get it out that really matters. Instead of reaching for a toothpick or scraping it off with your finger, try alternate methods that are safer in nature. For more information, feel free to contact Rock Creek Oral Surgery at 832-930-7801. You can also visit us at 14119 Grant Road, Suite 140, Cypress, TX 77429, near Jeremiah’s Italian Ice.