Do you have a recurring problem with food getting stuck between your teeth? Often times this happens between the same teeth. It can be an uncomfortable or tight feeling in your mouth after eating. Your tongue may even tend to gravitate to that area to try to free the debris.
The possible reasons for getting food stuck in between your teeth on a regular basis could be: fillings that aren’t shaped properly, teeth that have shifted or even a hole in a tooth that is allowing food to get jammed in there. If these problems, particularly the last one, are not corrected soon enough they can lead to greater problems such as decay on the root of teeth and that can progress very quickly.
Here are a few basic steps to try to remove food stuck in your teeth if brushing alone does not work:
- Gently use an interdental cleaner or toothbrush
- Another step to dislodge the food is to floss. You may have to try a few different angles to fully remove the item.
- If flossing normally does not work, tie a small knot in the floss and carefully place the floss between you teeth and pull the knot through gently.
- If you still cannot remove the food or food continues to get stuck in your teeth, please contact us so we can help. This may be the sign of something more serious.
Food trapped in your teeth can cause issues well beyond making you feel self-conscious. It can cause halitosis or bad breath. Also plaque can form between your “teeth and at the gumline” – and that’s where “periodontal disease often begins”.