For some reason, the little things in life can be the most irritating. Having a pebble in your shoe or getting a papercut can, for some reason, be even more frustrating than actually getting hurt.
When you get something stuck—really stuck—between your teeth, it can be infuriating trying to get it out. Here are some things you can try if you’re in that situation.
Floss (Gently!)
Dental floss is specifically designed to slip in between your teeth and remove whatever’s lodged there, which makes it perfect for situations like this. However, you shouldn’t force it. If you press down too hard or drag the floss across whatever’s lodged in there, you could very easily do damage to your gums or teeth.
Eat Crunchy Vegetables
Biting into crunchy foods can scrape away anything that may have built up in between the teeth. However, you’ll need to be careful not to eat something that could actually get wedged in between your teeth as well; nuts, for example, can splinter into small pieces.
Crunchy vegetables are the perfect balance between being hard enough to scrape away foods, but soft enough that they won’t do any damage, or get caught between your teeth as well.
Rinse
Sometimes, a soft touch is the most effective. Gently rinse your mouth out with warm water or mouthwash and see if that doesn’t wash away whatever is in your teeth. It may have the benefit of softening whatever it is up, so you could also try another method that didn’t work before.
Is it an Emergency?
If what you’re dealing with is really lodged in there, you might do more harm than good if you try and force it out. If you’ve been trying for a while or you’re in serious pain, you may want to call your dentist. They’ll be able to schedule an emergency appointment and use sophisticated dental instruments to help you.
Once you dislodge whatever the object was, you’ll immediately feel much better—that is, so long as you keep these tips in mind and don’t do any damage trying to get it out.
About the Author
Dr. Ellis Shwarts is a dentist who prides himself on his ability to not only improve his patient’s oral health, but to keep them happy and comfortable as he does so. Whether he’s helping a patient in an emergency or making their smile as beautiful as possible, he’ll go the extra mile to ensure his patients feel cared for and respected every step of the way.
If you have any questions about dental emergencies, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (972) 525-9283