# How do I get the taste of human flesh out of my mouth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 22, 2006, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406 "2006-11-22T11:51:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406/1 "2006-11-22T11:51:31Z")
Last week I had a wisdom tooth removed. Everything seems to be healing nicely – some residual pain & swelling, but nothing that Advil & Vicodin can’t handle. Right now, the biggest problem is…well, I’ve got this raw, fleshy, empty tooth socket in my mouth, and I can _taste_ it constantly. It’s like sucking on a great big chunk of ManBeef®. It was actually kinda cool at first (I’ve always wondered what human flesh tastes like!) but now it’s driving me up the wall. Especially the texture – uggh. Eating food & drinking coffee sometimes helps, but only temporarily. Does anyone know how to get rid of that nasty people taste? Or do I just have to wait it out? ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406/2 "2006-11-22T12:37:30Z")
I think I know what you mean, from loosing my milk teeth years ago. It went away (or I just got used to it) so I won’t regale you with quips about a nice Chianti 😛 ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406/3 "2006-11-22T12:40:10Z")
Well, you could try eating some spicy food or chewing on some strong mints, but I think that could cause a bit of a tingly sensation in your wound. Maybe carry a bottle of mild mouthwash with you and rinse regularly? ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406/4 "2006-11-22T12:44:50Z")
[QUOTE=KGS] Does anyone know how to get rid of that nasty people taste? Or do I just have to wait it out? [/QUOTE] “This, too, shall past.” Keep your tongue out of the empty socket. IF you can. Let it heal and seal. Till then sugarless gum might help to keep you tongue busy elsewhere. Took three sessions to get all four out of my mouth but don’t recall a problem of taste. Once the bleeding stops there should be nothing left to taste. ---
**Author:** ![MarcusF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@MarcusF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarcusF)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406/5 "2006-11-22T12:58:29Z")
Just wait it out! ---
**Author:** ![Subway\_Prophet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Subway\_Prophet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subway_Prophet)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406/6 "2006-11-22T14:30:25Z")
Might I suggest a little hair of the dog, so to speak? I’ll rustle up some for you if you’re a little squeamish about that sort of thing. There’s a crowded mall near where I work. Other than that, I recommend the mouthwash, and occasional Chloraseptic lozenges. I feel your pain. My wisdom teeth came out reluctantly, and in pieces. The hole they left behind was big enough to hold loose change. I tasted blood for months (long after the hole healed over.) Two foods that worked for me - ice cream and red meat. Obviously not at the same time, and not always effective. But more often than not, I was able to mask the flavor of the tooth hole with these. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406/7 "2006-11-22T14:33:44Z")
[QUOTE=Subway Prophet] Two foods that worked for me - ice cream and red meat. Obviously not at the same time… [/QUOTE] I bet you can get red meat ice cream in Japan. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406/8 "2006-11-22T15:10:04Z")
Back in the day (1997), my OS\* packed my gum holes with clove-oil-impregnated sterile string. For 2 weeks everything tasted of cloves. So be thankful. \*Oral surgeon. If your operating system attempts to shove _anything_ down your craw, I say get a Mac. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406/9 "2006-11-22T15:29:57Z")
You know those zinc lozenges some folks take for colds? One or two of those a day will give you an overpowering bad taste that will cover up the blood taste. Or, you could go the other direction. Ora-gel (or your drugstore’s house brand) oral anesthetic, applied to your tongue, will make it impossible to taste anything. As your doc probably told you, don’t drink anything through a straw for a few weeks. If you have the unconscious habit of maintaining a slight suction in your mouth to keep your jaw from dropping open, stop it. Otherwise, you’re sucking your own blood. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406/10 "2006-11-22T16:17:49Z")
Try some soylent green. Works like a charm. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406/11 "2006-11-22T16:37:08Z")
[QUOTE=AskNott] As your doc probably told you, don’t drink anything through a straw for a few weeks. If you have the unconscious habit of maintaining a slight suction in your mouth to keep your jaw from dropping open, stop it. Otherwise, you’re sucking your own blood. [/QUOTE] Other people have told me about the no-straw thing, but strangely, my dentist never mentioned it… There hasn’t been any bleeding since the first day, or at least not enough to show up in spit. It doesn’t really taste like blood, anyway…more like spicy, tangy pork that’s been marinating for several days. Mouthwash does seem to help, temporarily. I’ll give Ora-Gel a try, too. Thanks for the advice. ---
**Author:** ![Sonia\_Montdore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Sonia\_Montdore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sonia_Montdore)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406/12 "2006-11-22T20:04:10Z")
[QUOTE=KGS] ManBeef®. [/QUOTE] Band name. ---
**Author:** ![Roboto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@Roboto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roboto)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406/13 "2006-11-22T21:49:11Z")
Immediately after having my wisdom teeth pulled, I took some pain meds and watched the Godfather trilogy. Somehow, the taste of blood in my mouth made the movies that much cooler . . . it seemed totally appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406/14 "2006-11-22T22:04:39Z")
Rinse your mouth with a solution of water and Bicarbonate of Soda several times a day. That should take away the bad flavor. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406/15 "2006-11-22T22:34:22Z")
Tell him to stop. Oh, wait - just read the rest of the post… ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-the-taste-of-human-flesh-out-of-my-mouth/381406/16 "2006-11-22T23:26:25Z")
[QUOTE=AskNott] Or, you could go the other direction. Ora-gel (or your drugstore’s house brand) oral anesthetic, applied to your tongue, will make it impossible to taste anything. [/QUOTE] But, the numbness will cause you to accidently chomp your tongue. Then when the anesthetic wears off, more raw meat to deal with.