A fish bone stuck in the throat can often be cleared with simple steps like forceful coughing, swallowing soft moist foods (such as a banana or moistened bread), or sipping a small amount of olive oil. The goal is to help the bone dislodge or move safely into the stomach without irritating the throat.
A fish bone stuck in the throat may cause a scratchy sensation, pain, or the feeling of a lump. More serious symptoms include the presence of blood in the saliva, increasing pain, or difficulty swallowing or breathing.
Home methods may not work if the bone is larger, sharply lodged, or causing ongoing discomfort. In these cases, urgent medical attention is recommended so a clinician can remove the bone safely and assess for injury or complications.
Safe removal tips
Some ways to get a fish bone out of your throat include:
1. Eating a banana
An easy way to remove a small fish bone stuck in your throat is to eat a banana. Because it’s soft, the banana won’t irritate the esophagus as it passes through.
When swallowed, the chewed banana can catch the bone and carry it into the stomach, where it will eventually be dissolved by gastric acid.
2. Coughing forcefully
Coughing is the body’s primary defense mechanism that helps protect the throat and airways from irritants or abnormalities. Coughing creates a strong force of air that can displace foreign bodies in the airways, such as a fish bone.
As soon as you feel the bone become stuck, let your natural cough reflex kick in. This may help dislodge the fish bone from your throat and bring immediate relief.
3. Eating moistened bread or cooked rice
This technique works similarly to a banana. Take a piece of bread and and soak it milk. Once wet, squeeze and roll the bread into a small ball that can be swallowed whole. Once swallowed, the fish bone sticks to the bread, helping to push it into the stomach.
Other foods that can be ingested to help loosen the bone are well-cooked rice or potatoes. Like the foods mentioned above, they are soft and can adhere to the bone.
4. Drinking olive oil
Olive oil is less readily absorbed than other liquids, allowing it to keep the throat lining hydrated for a longer time. This can help stimulate natural movements of the esophagus that may push the fish bone out.
Therefore, it is better to drink a small shot of olive oil rather than water, as it is more lubricating. If you cannot drink pure olive oil, you can mix it in a cup of water.
5. Drinking something acidic
Drinking an acidic beverage, such as water mixed with vinegar or soda, is thought to help soften very fine fish bones. Once softened, the bones may become easier to swallow and could even dissolve completely.
6. Waiting for it to pass on its own
In many cases, the discomfort you feel may not be caused by the fish bone itself. The bone might have been briefly lodged in your throat, causing local inflammation and irritation, but then swallowed naturally, leaving some residual soreness.
Waiting a few hours can help you determine whether the bone is still stuck or if the sensation is simply due to mild tissue irritation.
7. Eating a marshmallow
Like bread, rice, or bananas, marshmallows are soft enough to help push down small fish bones that may be stuck. They also have the added advantage of being sticky, which means a bone can adhere to them as you swallow.
To try this, chew the marshmallow just enough to moisten it, then swallow it while keeping the piece as large as comfortably possible.
8. Drinking a thick milkshake or smoothie
A thick drink, like a milkshake or smoothie, can help to push the fish bone down the throat, especially if gulped forcefully. These drinks have the added benefit of being cold, which can soothe any irritation or discomfort caused by the fish bone.
9. Gargling warm salt water
This method is especially useful for fish bones that are stuck in the upper throat. The gargling motion can help to contract and relax the muscles of the esophagus, so that the fish bone can dislodge itself. The salt water can help with any irritation or inflammation caused by the fish bone.
You can prepare a salt water gargle by mixing 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water and stirring until completely dissolved. Gargle for 30 seconds and spit the water out, repeating until you feel relief.
10. Eating dry crackers
This method involves swallowing several dry crackers, chewing them just enough to make them swallowable but still fairly solid. The idea is that the swallowed bolus may scrape against the throat and help dislodge the fish bone.
Keep a cup of water nearby in case the crackers are too dry to swallow easily.
What not to do
It’s important not to use any utensils or your fingers to try to remove a fish bone, especially if you can’t see it. Doing so can cause small injuries in your throat or esophagus, leading to more pain and a higher risk of infection.
Red flags
Most cases can be managed at home. However, it is important to go to the emergency room if you cannot remove the fish bone using one of the techniques mentioned above, or if you experience any of the following:
- Very intense pain
- Heavy bleeding
- Difficulty breathing
In most situations, a doctor can remove the fish bone using special tweezers. In more complex cases, a minor surgical procedure may be needed. This is a simple procedure, typically performed without any skin incisions, and patients are usually discharged right after the fish bone is removed.