You’re sitting in a meeting after lunch, struggling to pay attention. You purse your lips to try to make yourself look more attentive and suddenly feel a small surge of pain in your mouth. You slowly roll your tongue along your top row of teeth and feel something that shouldn’t be there, lodged between two of your molars. You give it a push with your tongue, but it won’t budge—it’s really stuck in there. You excuse yourself and then quickly head to the bathroom for further investigation. These situations happen often, but what exactly should you do when there’s an object stuck between your teeth?
Can You Identify the Object?
You might have to do a little bit of detective work here, but identifying what’s stuck between your teeth is the first logical step towards removing it, or determining if a dentist’s assistance is required. Retrace your steps; consider everything that you’ve consumed recently and think about what could’ve gotten stuck. Also remember that things other than food can potentially become lodged between your teeth. Thoroughly inspect the object and see if you’re able to recognize it. Once you have a better idea of what’s stuck, you can determine whether you can remove it yourself.
Removing the Object Yourself
In many instances, you should be able to remove food or debris from your teeth without too much difficulty. However, you need to be gentle and extra careful; using a dental pick or a water flosser is preferable to using a fork or anything metal—often, using metal or other sharp objects can unintentionally lead to injury. Waxed dental floss can also do the trick. Your tongue is also an incredibly useful and convenient tool for dislodging food stuck in teeth as long as you don’t overwork your jaw muscles.
If that doesn’t work, other options include rinsing your mouth with warm water or mouthwash. The swishing motion of liquid can quickly clear out particles from between your teeth. Another option is consuming crunchy vegetables, like carrots—these types of foods can act as natural toothbrushes. Just be sure you don’t end up with additional pieces of debris stuck.
Should a Dentist Remove the Object?
If you’re unable to safely remove the object yourself, you’re still unsure about what it is, or you’re experiencing pain because of it, you need to schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. They will be fully equipped to deal with whatever it is that’s wedged in your teeth.
It is not uncommon for a piece of food or debris to become stuck in your teeth; in fact, it will probably happen to you quite often throughout your life. Just be sure to address it promptly and carefully.
About the Practice
Founded by native Nebraskans Dr. Ryan Shaffer and Dr. Steven Shaffer, South Ridge Dental has proudly served families in the Lincoln area since 2005. They remain up to date with the latest in evidence-based dental care and specialize in fields such as esthetic dentistry, dental implant restorations, and more. If you have any questions about the article or would like to contact South Ridge Dental, please reach out via their website or (402) 423-1616.