How to Get Food Out of Your Teeth

Most people have experienced getting food stuck in their teeth, usually at very inconvenient times. But what can we do when it happens — no one wants to be fumbling with their teeth at a fancy dinner party or even around friends casually. That’s why 5-Minute Crafts will tell you some helpful tricks to deal with this issue the proper way.

1. Rinse and floss.

• If you have water or any other beverage with you, rinsing your mouth can release some of the less stubborn pieces of food that get stuck, and it can be done discreetly. While it may sound simple, this can be a lifesaver. Swish the liquid throughout your whole mouth and teeth and see if the food gets released.
• If this keeps happening to you, it can also be helpful to always have floss on hand. Keep it in your bag, car, or purse, and floss normally to get the pesky debris out of your mouth.
  

2. Floss with a knot.

• Get your preferred floss and tie a knot in the string and floss as you would normally, moving the knot between the teeth where the food is stuck. The knot will make the floss more substantial and possibly help remove bigger pieces of debris.
• Additionally, make sure to pick the best floss, depending on your situation.
  Waxed floss is less likely to break.
  Unwaxed floss fits into tighter spaces, which is ideal if you have tighter spaces between the teeth.
  Dental tape is great for bigger spaces between teeth.
  Superflosses have stiffer ends that make it easier to clean around braces.

3. Chew sugar-free gum.

If you’re the type of person who always carries chewing gum with them or you can’t get that one piece of food out with any other method, chewing a piece of gum can help.

• Make sure it’s sugar-free and try to find gum with xylitol. Using it after a meal can help dislodge any food left behind and it even increases the amount of saliva in your mouth, which by itself can end up dissolving the debris.
  

4. Use a toothpick

If you’re at a restaurant, a toothpick can be your only option since restaurants will usually provide their customers with these.

• Find a bathroom and excuse yourself from the table to go there.
• Use the mirror to locate the debris you want to remove and pick at it with the toothpick.
  Be careful and take your time, toothpicks are very pointy and can hurt your gums or teeth when used in a rush. Make sure to throw it out afterward since toothpicks are single-use.
  

5. Avoid some foods.

Certain foods are very prone to leaving bits and pieces behind on or between your teeth, so if you have a tendency to get food stuck between your teeth and see no possible way of removing them with the tips above, avoid these foods:

• Seeds can be found in bread, salads, or fruit.
• Popcorn, while a healthy snack, has thin hulls that tend to get stuck and can even lead to complications.
• Potato chips, besides getting all over your teeth, contain acidity that can be detrimental to your dental health.

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