Even if you floss every day and brush after meals, you may find that you have a problem with food getting stuck between the same teeth. This can cause problems well beyond making you feel self-conscious. For one thing, food between your teeth can be uncomfortable or even painful. It can cause halitosis or bad breath. However, the problems can be greater than that. Did you know that plaque can form between your “teeth and at the gumline” – and that that’s where “periodontal disease often begins”?
If you remove the food between your teeth, you’re making your mouth cleaner and less hospitable to periodontal disease and other problems. So, how exactly do you go about doing that?
Continue brushing and flossing
It’s important to remove food from between teeth. If you know that certain teeth are more likely to hold food between them, make sure to pay special attention to those teeth when you brush and floss. Remember to be patient; if you rush, your technique will be less effective. Need a refresher course in brushing or flossing? Let us know. Many adults make this request because it’s easy to get complacent and forget the best techniques over time.
Maintain a healthy diet
It’s a reality that food gets stuck between your teeth sometimes. It’s more likely with certain teeth, as noted above. If you maintain a healthy diet, you’ll reduce the amount of damage that food can do when it’s stuck there. For example, a gummy bear or other type of sugary candy has the potential to be more damaging to your teeth than a piece of celery.
No dental floss handy?
Sometimes, you may find yourself in a situation where you have food stuck in your teeth and there isn’t any dental floss or a toothbrush in sight. What should you do? You may be surprised at the answer. If you have “celery, carrots, or apples with you,” snack on them. They help “clear away loose food and debris.” Keep sugarless gum with you at all times for the same reason. It “can help eliminate food particles caught between teeth after a meal.”
Although people of any age may have food get stuck between their teeth, you may be more prone to it as you get older. “The enamel wears down with age, so your teeth get a little smaller and the spaces between them get slightly wider, which means food gets trapped more easily.”
As with any other oral health issue, it’s important to discuss this with your dentist. At Moore Family Dental, we’ll listen and take action. In most cases, the issue of getting food stuck can be resolved (or minimized).
If you have any specific questions or concerns, please let us know. We aim to help you achieve the best possible oral health.