Dealing with a Piece of Food Stuck in Your Teeth

We have all had a time or two when a piece of food, like a popcorn hull, meat fiber, or fruit peel, has gotten stuck between our teeth while eating. Most of the time, these food particles resolve themselves; however, there are times when a piece of food can get stubbornly stuck between two teeth and cause serious pressure, discomfort and distress. Even if you are in distress, you need to stay calm. Acting irrationally can oftentimes turn an inconvenient situation into a serious oral emergency.

If a foreign object gets stuck between your teeth, your dentist, Dr. Jessie Hunter, offers key tips to help you remove it safely.

You should never try to use toothpicks or any kind of sharp, pointed tool to pry it loose. This could injure your gums and damage the neighboring teeth.

Waxed dental floss is the first thing you should reach for. The waxy coating on the strand allows the dental floss to slide easily between your teeth to work around the foreign object. Try not to force the floss into place because it could seriously injure your gums.

You could also try using a floss threader that is loaded with wax-coated floss to work at the object from a different position. Sometimes a dental fountain or oral water jet can loosen the object. Other times a vigorous rinse with lukewarm saltwater is enough to wash the object between your teeth loose or to alter its position enough so waxed floss can finally pry it loose.

If the piece of food still remains lodged between your teeth, you may need to have it professionally removed. In this situation, call Allen Pediatric Dentistry at 972-535-8169 to set up an appointment. You dentist in Allen, Texas, is here to help you!