How do you get food out of a dry socket?

Answer 1

I just had my wisdom teeth removed four days ago and I have been having a similar problem.

Get yourself an oral irrigator syringe.

I'm not talking about the store bought electric or battery powered high pressure units such as "water pik".

What I'm referring to is the kind that is a syringe with a curved plastic nozzle for cleaning/rinsing inside one's mouth. I got mine from my dentist. Gently use it to squirt plain (or preferrably salt) water into your wisdom holes and dislodge the food. I have found it to be extremely effective.

However, care must be taken to avoid hurting your mouth. Oral surgeons usually suggest this method only after a week of recovery has taken place, and not before. In my case, I have have been forced to use the irrigator because the lodged food was causing me pain.

You must be gentle to avoid dislodging any forming blood clots, as this may result in a dry socket, which is when the underlying bone becomes exposed due to loss of clot.

Comments from another fellow patient: in my case, using the syringe (given by the oral surgeon) alone was not enough to dislodge the food particles out of the holes. Not sure if a "water pik" will do, never tried that. But what I am doing now is using the disposable dental floss/pick combo tools to rake out the food that cover up the hole or are slightly inside the hole before using the syringe. Had to do that as the food was big enough to cover up the holes and stuck enough such that the syringe didn't blast it out. Couldn't swish it out with water nor "tongue" it out either. The holes are a bit deep so I can't tell if there smaller food particles stuck in there, can only hope that all is ok.

ok so i got my wisdom teeth removed, its been like 5 days after the surgery and i have my lower gums still to heal. i got food stuck in there and get so frustrated when i cant get food out. but i found that if you let some ice cream melt in those gaping sockets, you can wash then out easily with your tongue. i have two enormous holes too. like the surgeon had to drill my lower jaw bone because my teeth were impacted... im kinda scared because its been 5 days and the holes are still pretty big. =/

Answer 2

Try a Water Pik. Avoid sticking anything in there, as you could break the skin and cause an infection.

Either rinse with water and salt, or use a plastique syringe that you buy at the drug store.

Answer 3

For the first couple of days you should not do anything except rinse very gently with salty water. Most likely this will not disloge the food. You can get a special seringe from your dentist to clean the area, but my dentist advised me to use it only after a week or so. Yes, do nothing until the clot is formed and solid. Then you may irrigate gently with something like those ear wax bulbs, or swishing warm salt water around in your mouth.

Answer 4

It would depend upon just how the "socket" was addressed. If it were "stiched" with "solvable" stiches, then it wouldn't matter. If it had been sutured, that, too, wouldn't be a problem. Based upon your enquiry, you are suggesting that the "socket" was left "open"? That's unheard of. To answer your question --- swarm your mouth with luke-warm water (not hot nor cold) and spit it out. I.e., "gargle", swishing your wisdom tooth area. Another good idea is to place a warm tea bag over the wound and bite down on it, as opposed to gauze. Why? Because tea has tanic acid, which helps heal the wound. Consult your oral surgeon about all of this.

Regards, Jim.

Answer 5

I would just take one of those flossing needles for people with braces and use that...of course you could always use a pressure washer...just a thought...

Answer 6

If you get food trapped in the hole where a wisdom tooth or any tooth was, be sure to rinse very well to dislodge the food. Failure to do so can cause infection and pain.

Answer 7

pick it out with a fork or something, or look in a mirror and pull it out

Answer 8

If you have a filling that traps food, it needs to be replaced ASAP.