What To Do If You Get Food in Your Nasal Cavity

Posted on by Alpine Ear Nose & Throat PC

Sometimes, bits of food can accidentally become lodged in your nasal cavity due to eating too quickly or inhaling while you eat. These are called nasal foreign bodies and are harmless in most cases, but if left unremoved they can cause bleeding, infection or asphyxiation.

Tactics to Try

Woman blows nose

Food particles can become stuck in your nasal cavity because the nasal cavity itself runs to the back of the throat. When the foreign body is a food particle stuck in your nasal cavity, it can often be removed using home remedies. However, if the food causes pain or difficulty breathing, you should seek medical attention.

Try these at-home tactics to remove food from your nasal cavity:

  • Blow your nose: Gently blow your nose to see if you can remove the food particle. Avoid sharp inhalations as this could lodge the food further. Use a soft tissue or cloth to avoid irritation. If the food appears to be on one side of the nose, try covering the other nostril and breathing out gently through the open nostril to remove the food.
  • Use a saline rinse: Using a clean neti pot or similar item, use a saline wash to pour into one side of the nostril and out the other.
  • Sniff water: Fill your palm with a bit of slightly warm water. Close one nostril and gently sniff the water through the other nostril.
  • Let gravity assist you: Lie down and tilt your head backward. The food may fall into the back of the throat, allowing you to swallow it or cough it out.

If the food particle is still stuck, despite trying these tactics, seek medical attention. Do not try to remove the item with tweezers or a like object, as that could lodge the food further or cause injury.

In order to prevent food from becoming lodged in the nasal cavity, avoid talking with your mouth full or laughing while eating with friends at The Muse, as you could inhale food into the nasal cavity. Eat slowly and chew thoroughly.

It’s important to remember to see a doctor if this issue persists after home remedies, or if you find this occurs frequently. For questions about ENT health, contact Alpine Ear Nose & Throat PC to schedule an appointment today.