4 Ways to Dislodge an Object Stuck Between Your Teeth

You just finished eating an amazing meal, but now you have something lodged between your teeth. This can be a frustrating feeling, especially if you’re spending a night out with friends. Not only is it uncomfortable, but leaving anything in the middle of the teeth can gradually lead to the accumulation of bacteria and an infection. The best thing you can do is dislodge it. Read on to learn four common tips to remove an object stuck between your teeth in Rockledge.

Tip #1: Press Lightly with Your Tongue

One of the great handy tools in your mouth is your tongue. With a light touch, you can potentially extract the foreign object by simply pushing it. However, you might want to pay attention to any sensations of jaw pain as you use your tongue. Overdoing it can actually tire out your tongue, which can lead to problems when speaking. Rest a while or try something else if your tongue or jaw begins to ache.

Tip #2: Use a Toothpick

You might be eating dinner when something gets stuck between your teeth, and you’ll probably want to use anything at hand to help remove it, like a fork. It’s highly recommended that you avoid trying this, as a simple slip of the metal utensil can easily cut your gums and make you more likely to develop gum disease. In addition, you could do serious damage to your enamel.

Instead, use a toothpick! It could either be wooden or made from a thin piece of folded paper. Once you’ve acquired one, the trick is to gently slide the toothpick between the teeth where the debris is stuck, push slowly to allow a tiny gap to open between your teeth, and gently work the debris out. Combining a toothpick with rinsing your mouth with water can make things even smoother.

Tip #3: Eat Crunchy Veggies

Surprisingly, eating crunchy vegetables is both healthy for you and useful for dislodging annoying food from between your teeth. Use vegetables like carrot sticks or celery to act like organic, edible toothbrushes! These tough veggies require a lot of chewing, which can help get rid of stubborn food fragments while boosting your saliva to wash them away.  

Tip #4: Floss Gently

In combination with the previous methods, flossing is always the go-to method of clearing out debris from between your teeth. Still, you should pay careful mind as to how you floss. If an object is unpleasantly stuck, you may be tempted to forcefully floss to get it out. This could spell more damage by potentially pushing the object further down into your gums. Instead, try to floss gently to dislodge it.

These common tips can be useful either alone or in conjunction with each other. However, if you’ve tried each method and the object is still stuck, you can always call or visit your dentist to help remove it in no time!  

About the Author

Dr. Sowmya Kumar received her doctorate at the University of Florida College of Dentistry. Along with her team, they provide excellent and relaxing dental services for Rockledge and the surrounding communities. If you need help getting something unstuck from between your teeth, visit her website or call (321) 631-4334.