How to Safely Remove a Piece of Food that Is Stuck Between Your Teeth


There’s a few things in life that you completely dread, and when it happens, you know you won’t be able to stop thinking about it until it’s gone. For me, that’s getting food stuck between my teeth. It’ll usually happen at that moment, on a trip, when I’m away from my beautiful home bathroom, and I’m left stranded with a piece of meat or popcorn kernel that my tongue won’t stop playing with. Oh the agony! Here’s what your friends might say to do, and what your dentist will say, and why:

What Friends might say to do:

A recent survey* of 1,005 adults asked Americans how they “remove that piece of food stuck between their teeth”. They found that 61% will use their fingernails, 40% will fold paper, 21% will use a knife or fork, 14% will search for a safety pin, and 7% will use strands of hair. A second survey reports that people have used twigs, matchbooks, toenails, wires, screwdrivers and pocket knives… yikes! Even though these people may have gotten out the food, 42% reported pain directly from using these obscure objects.

What’s the big deal?

One of the biggest concerns for using these foreign objects is not only the damage that you can do to your gums, but the spaces you can create by forcing these things between your teeth, called open contacts. Teeth should be lightly touching their neighbors. When they do, floss should snap through this space, also known as a closed contact. When foreign objects are wedged in-between teeth, to get food out, these contacts spread, and over time, become open contacts.

One way to measure an open contact, is if one piece paper (0.05mm) fits between two teeth. That’s what you don’t want, since food will get stuck in an open contact. Thin human hair is between 0.04-0.06mm, with thick hair being 0.08-.1mm thick. And, an average toothpick is 2mm thick. So, anything .05mm or bigger will separate your teeth and cause gaps

How do you safely remove food without damaging your gums or moving your teeth?

You’ll want to use something that can easily slip past two teeth sitting closer than 0.05mm apart. Here are some options:

1. Salt water rinses or antiseptic mouthwash (alcohol or alcohol free) definitely can do the job, but often the power created from swishing is not enough for those stubborn pieces of food.

2. Waterpiks and water flossers are a great choice too, having enough power to dislodge any free-floating piece of food.

3. Using a toothbrush can create a physical removal of debris, but the bristles can’t reach in-between teeth very well.

4. An interproximal brush aka sulcabrush or end-tuft brush is like a toothbrush, but is a small point of bristles. This has the physical features of a toothbrush, but in a more compact design, made for those in-between spaces.

5. Dental toothpicks aka stimudents, plastic toothpick, the toothpick end of a flosspick, interproximal brushes or proxabrushes are the best for getting the embrasure space (the space just under or above the contact point of two teeth). They are not designed for the contact point, since they are often thicker than a piece of paper. Still, with a curved thin end of a dental toothpick, you can maneuver the stubborn food out.

6. Flossing with either floss, or a floss pick is the gold standard. The fibers are often waxed to slip between those tight contacts, and get to the in-between space. Flossing creates a physical removal of debris and, if used right, can clean debris from even underneath the gum line.


Dr.Topher - Chaffin Dental Care - Dentist Spokane Washington

For more information, contact the author, Dr. Topher Chaffin. He’s a family dentist at Chaffin Dental Care, in Spokane, Washington

*Statistics were pulled from this ADA article



Why You Should Change Your Toothbrush

As you probably know, brushing your teeth is an extremely important part of your oral hygiene routine. You may have also heard that brushing your teeth can actually help you protect the health of your entire body. If you don’t brush well, you may experience a number of issues–but did you know that if you don’t care for your toothbrush well you could be putting your oral health in danger?

You see, if you don’t care for your toothbrush well, you could accidentally be allowing more germs and bacteria into your mouth. If you have an issue such as gum disease, this bacteria could enter your bloodstream, causing even more issues. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to avoid issues such as these. For instance, please remember to let your toothbrush air dry after every use. You should also store your brush upright and leave it in an open area–not in a drawer. You should also make sure your brush doesn’t come in contact with anyone else’s.

You should also remember to get a new toothbrush, or a new head if you use an electric brush, about once every three months. However, you may need to replace your brush sooner if your bristles have frayed. You should also replace your brush after you deal with an illness. You see, your brush won’t kill bad bacteria, meaning bad bacteria can stay on your brush after you’ve been sick and be harbored in frayed bristles.

If you have any more question about how to care for your toothbrush, or about when you should replace it, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our dentist, Dr. [doctor_name], and our team will gladly answer any questions you have. We will also examine your teeth and gums and give you personalized advice. If you would like to schedule an appointment with us, please don’t hesitate to contact [pratice_name] at [phone]. We are eager to hear from you.


How Floss Has Evolved Over Time

Dental floss is an important part of proper oral hygiene. It may come as a surprise to learn that according to the ADA, only 12 percent of Americans floss every day. The flossing concept isn’t a new one. Evidence found by researchers suggests that interdental cleaning has been practiced since Prehistoric times.

Researchers have found evidence of floss use in prehistoric times. Archeologists have found evidence that Neanderthals used toothpicks made from small sticks to clean between their teeth. Horsehair may have been used as floss as well.

In 1815, a New Orleans dentist, Dr. Levi Spear Parmly, began suggesting that his patients use a thin silk thread to clean between the teeth. The flossing idea caught hold and in 1882, unwaxed dental floss began to be massed produced. In 1898, the very first floss patent was granted to Johnson & Johnson. This floss was made from the same silk material used for silk stitches by doctors.

Because silk has a tendency to shred and its costs rose during World War II, nylon replaced silk as the primary floss material in the 1940s. Because floss was now made from nylon, waxed floss could be developed in the 1940s and dental tape in the 1950s.

Floss has continued to evolve since then. Gore-Tex material is used in some varieties of floss. Spongy floss and soft floss have been developed for sensitive gums. Floss picks, which simplify the process of flossing the back teeth and flossing with braces, have become quite popular.

Please contact [practice_name] today to learn more about flossing in [city], [state], and to schedule an appointment with our dentist, Dr. [doctor_name].


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