Get To Know Us Tooth decay and dental fractures are not the only things that can threaten the health and integrity of your teeth. If you have a bad habit of nervously nibbling on pens and pencils or you routinely improvise your teeth as tools a small piece of a foreign object could break off and become stuck between your teeth or in your gumline.
In a situation like this, some basic first-aid might help you safely extract the item from your mouth while determining the need for professional care from one of the dentists at Magnificent Mile Family Dental.
Sometimes a vigorous saltwater rinse is sufficient to dislodge the offending item. Should this fail, you might want to try using waxed dental floss. The thin waxy layer on the strand allows it to slide easier between teeth to worked around the offending object.
Don’t try to force the strand of dental floss or snap it between the teeth. This could drive the object towards your gums or cause additional harm. If you have one on hand a floss threader loaded with waxed dental floss can help you work the strand at a different angle.
Sometimes a dental water flosser like Waterpik® might also prove useful. The concentrated stream of water these devices create could help loosen the object from between your teeth.  Sometimes it can even clear debris that is helping to hold the piece of food in place.
If you live in the Chicago, Illinois, area and you need help safely removing a foreign object from between your teeth or gum line, you should call 312-280-0034 to seek further treatment from Dr. Olaitan Okediji-Registe and their associates.