Socket hole full of tuna. Dentists please

[Sezza57325]

Posting for traffic 🤞😩

I had a back molar out a couple of days ago. I have eaten tuna twice since then (very little food info from dentist and soft fish seemed like a safe bet. I ate on the opposite side). Im pretty sure my hole is now full of tuna that is starting to smell. I asked the dentist on the day what to do if I get any food stuck in there and she said to gently pull it out with tweezers but this is all compacted in and I’m scared to go too deep. I’ve pulled the bits off the top and it smelled mild but bad, more than just fishy. My hole hurt yesterday but it’s not too bad today, it’s more a full feeling and ache near the jaw joint.

I think I know the answer but is there any chance that this is the “plug” and not tuna?? I’ve been doing saltwater rinses but nothing is budging at all. I’m so scared of getting an infection but I’m also scared of pulling out the plug. Should I carry on with tweezers and do my best? Buy a syringe and try to rinse it out? It’s all mushed in so think a Q tip would just compact it more. Or do I just leave it and pray??

I'm sorry - but you have to go to the dentists asap, have the socket flushed out with sterile saline, and have them apply a dry socket dressing if the blood clot is missing. Don't go poking anything in there yourself, its an open wound.

Yes, absolutely back to the dentist asap, don't be fobbed off or wait till Monday.

You could try a salt water swill it might get it out for you , if not you might have to go back and have the dentist do it

Oops sorry , saw you'd done this already

Back to the dentist for you. I had a molar out, followed all the advice but still got dry socket and it was horrific. They washed the socket, packed it with clove stuff and gave me antibiotics.

The dentist didn’t seem that bothered about a bit of food but I did think the tweezer suggestion was a bit odd. So it wouldn’t be an overreaction to call them?
Yes I’ve tried salt water but unfortunately it’s not loosing up

I'm generally self sufficient with caring for wounds at home but this is one you just can't do yourself.

Call them and tell them about the stuck food and that you've tried to clear it yourself and you are concerned about it becoming infected

I used a tiny paint brush to get a rice grain out that was stuck in my extraction hole, but this was a couple of weeks after extraction so it was more advanced in healing than yours is so I don't know if that would be ok to do for you, but a soft small paintbrush is gentler on the tender area than a pair of tweezers that might jab it.

Perhaps invest in an oral irrigator like a waterpik and wash out with some saline on a low power setting if you can't get anywhere with the dentists.

Back to Dentist…I had dry sockets that needed to be packed etc too.

Well I went back to the dentist. He just laughed at me. He said don’t worry if there’s food in the hole or it smells, there’s only reason to worry if after two weeks I’m in too much pain to live with.

This is an expensive dentist I had to be referred to, so he must know what he’s talking about. But I’m feeling pretty self conscious about the smell

OMG no thats not right, phone 111 and ask for an emergency appointment anywhere. I had to go to the dental department at the hospital when that happened to me.