7 tricks to get rid of a fish bone stuck in your throat
Freshwater fish such as trout, salmon and perch are among the best tasting fish and a real treat on the dinner table.
But this fish is among the worse for having tiny bones that can get stuck in your throat.
If a bone gets stuck in your throat for the first time some people tend to panic, but it’s important to stay calm and try these handy tricks for getting rid of it.
1. Cough
When something gets stuck in the throat, the body reacts instinctively by coughing. Try this a few times first to see if you can dislodge it.
2. Olive oil
If the first trick didn’t work you might want to take a few sips of olive oil. It acts as a lubricant so may help to dislodge the annoying fish bone.
3. Marshmallows
This may sound strange, but it does actually work.
Make sure you eat one small enough to swallow and then swallow it whole. The stickiness of the marshmallow can help to take the fish bone with it.
4. Use vinegar
Mix vinegar with water and gargle it a few times before swallowing. The vinegar can help to dissolve the fish bone.
This can take some time so be patient and this may just dislodge the offending bone.
5. Bread in warm water
This works the same way as the marshmallow method. Take a piece of bread and dip it in either water or warm milk. Then roll it up into a ball small enough to swallow whole.
The stickiness of the bread will hopefully take the fish bone with it as your swallow.
6. Rice
Take just take a handful of rice – that could forcefull plunge down the thorn on your throat towards your stomach.
But be careful and make sure that the rice is tender and soft enough to be ingested fully.
7. Salt and water
Dropping a small amount of salt in a glass of water and ingesting it could help you get through that pierced fish bone in your esophagus.
It could also help prevent infection if there is an injury from the pierced tissue.
Seek medical help
If the fish bone is causing breathing problems then you need to go to your nearest ER immediately. If it’s not an emergency you can still book an appointment with your doctor to have it removed.
I hadn’t heard of any of these tricks before.
But now I know what to do if a fish bone gets stuck in my throat. Feel free to share these handy tips with your friends!