Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I am a 19-year-old male. I have noticed small pieces of food (meat) getting stuck in the retromolar region in the mouth. I have not experienced this previously. Is this normal? What can I do to prevent food from getting stuck there? Kindly help.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I can understand your concern.
Thank you for taking the time to figure out why that is happening to you. Given your age, my first inclination is that you may have your third molars (wisdom teeth) starting to erupt behind your second molars. Have you ever been told that you have third molars developing? Have you had your wisdom teeth removed?
If they are erupting, they can create a small pocket in the tissues that can harbor food particles. This is often when your dentist would suggest the removal of the wisdom teeth because food lodgement can cause gum problems and cavities.
My advice would be to see your dentist and ask them to evaluate your wisdom teeth to see if they are causing problems and whether they should be removed. This is a normal procedure for patients of your age and generally goes smoothly.
I wish you good health.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
My wisdom teeth were removed two years ago. I think I have used the wrong word to describe the location, so I will describe it. The structure has a fluffy texture that looks circular both on the left and right side of the mouth and is located behind all teeth just before the throat. My tongue can reach if I make it go all the way in either direction. The small particles of meat get stuck in this fluffy structure.
Thank you.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Glad to have you back.
Pictures can help so much in situations like these. This sounds like you might be talking about your tonsils. We have a set of tonsils at the back of the mouth that play an important role in our immune system. In some people, they can grow to be very large and require removal as they can obstruct the airway. Additionally, some people have large crypts (holes) in their tonsils that can accumulate food debris and other deposits. For example, have you heard of tonsil stones? You should share an image to see if we are on the same page. If that is the area in question, then it would be more appropriate to see your general physician or an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor to know whether or not they should be addressed.
I wish you good health.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
We are talking about tonsils. They are not large and do not obstruct the airway. The crypts are small, so all the food particles that I have ever got out of that area were all less than 0.05 inches.
I have not heard of tonsil stones. I imagined that having food particles stuck there for a long time could create an environment for bacteria, so I brush it out frequently. That works, but it certainly was not a part of my routine before, and I would not like to be different from other people.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I am glad we are on the same page. I suggest you see your doctor to know if they think they are large enough to warrant removal. Removal provides a number of health benefits and is best done while young and resilient. Gargling with a saltwater rinse would be more comfortable than brushing. This is a normal problem, so do not feel out of place.
I hope this helps.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
I am so glad that I now know what the problem is.
Thank you.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
You are welcome. Keep in touch for further doubts.
Thank you.
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Answered byDr. Blake Louscher
Medically reviewed byDr. Vinodhini J.
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
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