Tips to Safely and Effectively Remove Something from Your Gum Line

I think we have all experienced a time or two when you were eating a meal and a piece of food got stuck in your gums. Worse still, is if you have a habit of chewing on objects like pencils and pens, or biting off your fingernails. In most situations, these things can be loosened and removed by rinsing your mouth or giving it a good brushing.

There are also times when a piece of food gets stubbornly stuck in your gums and causes pressure and discomfort. In a situation like this the dental professionals at Shore Smiles offer a few basic tips to safely and effectively remove the object from your gums.

First off, it’s important to stay calm and be patient about clearing the object away. You should never try to use toothpicks or sharp tools to pry the object loose, as this could injure your gums and potentially damage your teeth.

Try to vigorously rinse your mouth with salt water. This could loosen the object and help soothe the gums. Try not to rinse with antiseptic mouthwash, as this could actually irritate your gum tissue.

If the object is still stuck, you can use waxed dental floss to remove an object that is stuck in the gum line. The waxy coating allows the strand to slide easier between teeth to work around the foreign object. You should never force the floss into place, as it could seriously injure your gums.

You might also want to try a dental fountain or oral water jet.

When you should stop and call a dentist

Most trapped food comes out with patience and the steps above. There are a few situations where continuing to work at it yourself does more harm than good. Contact a dentist if you notice any of the following.

• The object will not budge after a day of gentle attempts
• The gum around it is swelling, throbbing or bleeding steadily
• You develop a bad taste or persistent bad breath from that spot, which can signal infection
• The area is painful to bite on
• You cannot see or feel an object, but the pressure and discomfort continue

That last one matters more than people realize. When there is no object to find, the sensation is often coming from something else: a pocket of gum inflammation, a cavity between the teeth, or a filling that has worn down and opened a gap where food now packs in every time you eat.

Why food keeps getting stuck in the same spot

If one particular space traps food after nearly every meal, that is not bad luck. It usually points to a physical change between two teeth. Common causes include decay forming between the teeth, a worn or failing filling that no longer seals the contact point, gum recession opening space near the root, a chipped or cracked tooth creating a ledge, or teeth that have gradually shifted.

Food packing into the same gap repeatedly also pushes bacteria below the gum line, which is how a minor annoyance turns into decay or gum disease. A regular dental cleaning and exam will usually identify the cause quickly, and the fix is often simple when caught early.

Need help in Virginia Beach?

Shore Smiles is at 814 Newtown Road in Virginia Beach, VA, serving patients throughout Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Chesapeake. Dr. Christian Mullin, Dr. Tanya Mullin and Dr. Brianna Albers can remove what is stuck safely and, more importantly, work out why it is happening in the first place.

If there is swelling or real pain, we offer same-day emergency appointments. Otherwise, call Shore Smiles at (757) 210-5994 or schedule online and we will take a look at your next visit.