The presence of a fishbone in the throat can be quite uncomfortable and cause a feeling of lump in the throat. In some cases, it is also possible to observe the presence of some symptoms such as blood in the saliva and difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
Most of the time, the pimple is small and, therefore, the body itself ends up pushing it out of the tissue without causing damage to health. However, when the pimple is large, there is some risk of causing injury to the throat and even infection, and it is recommended to remove the pimple carefully, if it is visible, or to go to the hospital to have it removed correctly.
Here are some tips to remove a fishbone from your throat:
1. Eat a banana
A simple way to get a small fishbone stuck in your throat out is to eat a banana, because it’s soft and likely won’t hurt your esophagus when it passes through it. When passing through the pimple, the banana pieces will stick to the pimple and push it into the stomach, where it will eventually be dissolved by the gastric acid.
2. cough
Coughing is the body’s first defense mechanism against changes in the throat and airways, as coughing pushes air with enough force to dislodge any foreign body, such as a pimple.
So, at the moment it is important to follow the coughing instinct, as it can help to free the pimple from the throat, causing an immediate sensation of relief.
3. Eat cooked bread or rice
This technique works similarly to the banana technique, for this you must take a piece of bread and then dip it in milk. When it is well wet, you should squeeze the bread and make a small ball that can be swallowed whole. Once swallowed, the bread sticks to the spine and helps push it down into the stomach.
Other foods that can be ingested to loosen the pimple are well-cooked rice or potatoes, because, although they are soft, they can stick to the pimple.
4. Drink some olive oil
Unlike water, olive oil is not easily absorbed and therefore helps to hydrate the walls of the throat well for longer, which can cause the natural movements of the esophagus to push the pimple out.
So, it is better to drink a little olive oil than water, as it is more lubricating. If you cannot drink pure olive oil, it is also possible to drink a mixture of water with a little olive oil, for example.
5. Drink something acidic
It is believed that drinking an acidic beverage, such as vinegar water or soda, can help to soften very thin fish bones. Thus, by making the pimples softer, they can be swallowed more easily or even be dissolved.
6. Wait for it to go away on its own
In some cases, the discomfort felt may not necessarily be due to the fishbone remaining in the throat. That is, it is possible that the fish spine was temporarily left in the throat, causing inflammation and local irritation, and then it was swallowed, leaving the lesions. So, waiting a few hours can help determine if the fishbone is still stuck in the throat or if it corresponds to tissue damage.
7. Eat a marshmallow
Like bread, rice, and bananas, marshmallows are soft enough to push out any fish bones that might be stuck. Also, the marshmallow can stick to the pimple, allowing them to be swallowed together. Thus, it is recommended to chew the marshmallow until it is moist and then swallow, keeping the piece of marshmallow as large as possible.
8. Drink a more viscous drink
A thicker, more viscous drink, such as a milkshake or a smoothie, can help push back the fish’s spine, especially if swallowed forcefully. Plus, these drinks have the added benefit of being cold, which helps ease any irritation or discomfort you may be experiencing.
9. Gargle with warm water and salt
This method is mainly indicated in cases where the pimple is stuck in the upper part of the throat. Gargling can help to contract and relax the esophageal muscle so that the pimple can come off on its own. Salt can help soothe any irritation or inflammation caused by the pimple.
Gargle can be prepared by mixing 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water, mixing thoroughly until dissolved. Then, gargle for about 30 seconds and spit out the water, repeating until you feel relief.
10. Eat dry crackers
Swallowing as many dry crackers at once can also help ease the pimple out, and it’s important to make sure the crackers are chewed just enough so they can be swallowed whole. The idea of this method is to make the cake that is ingested, scrape the throat, dislodging the bone.
what not to do
It is important to avoid using any type of utensil or even your fingers to remove a pimple that is not visible, as lesions can appear on the wall of the esophagus, which end up causing more discomfort and increasing the risk of infection.
when to go to the doctor
It is important to go to the emergency room whenever you cannot remove the pimple with any of these techniques, but also when it appears:
- very intense pain;
- heavy bleeding;
- Difficulty breathing.
Usually, the doctor can remove the pimple using special tweezers, however, in the most difficult cases, minor surgery may be necessary to remove the pimple. In these cases, it is usually not necessary to be hospitalized, as it is a very simple surgery that, sometimes, does not even include cuts in the skin.
