Picture this: you’re sitting down streaming your favorite series, enjoying a bowl of popcorn. Suddenly, you feel a sharp pain. Oh no! You’ve got one of those pesky shells caught in between your teeth. But wait! Before you pick up that wooden toothpick, take a moment to know their risks.
The Dangers of Toothpicks
You would think that something called a “toothpick” would be safe for your teeth, wouldn’t you? But the truth is, while these handy kitchen helpers may be great for skewering cheese cubes or testing the center of your cakes, they are actually quite dangerous when it comes to your mouth.
Gum Trouble
One of the dangers of using a toothpick in your mouth is that it is extremely easy to poke and injure your gums. This can make them bleed and make them vulnerable to infection.
Breaking Bad
Another risk of putting a toothpick in your mouth is that they’re notoriously fragile. But while it’s not such a big deal when you’re trying to skewer an olive, if you break a piece of wood in your gums, that could land you in the emergency dentist’s office with a painful injury!
Enamel Damage
Your tooth enamel is the strongest part of your body, but it’s not self-repairing. When you use wooden toothpicks, you can easily scratch the enamel if you’re not careful, causing permanent damage to your teeth.
When Push Comes to Shove
Attempting to push food out from between your teeth with the help of a toothpick can sometimes backfire if you accidentally push the food deeper between your teeth or into your gums. If this happens, you may need to see your dentist for help removing it.
How to Remove Stuck Food
Should you find yourself trying to remove particles of food from between your teeth, first try wiggling it loose with your tongue. If that doesn’t work, your next step should be dental floss. Try moving the floss gently back and forth and move very slowly. If you still cannot free the debris with floss, you can try a water irrigator, or as a last resort, contact your emergency dentist for assistance.
Remember, despite their name, toothpicks really shouldn’t be used to clean your teeth. To ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy when trying to dislodge food or debris, be sure to try flossing, rinsing, or reaching out to your emergency dentist. It could prevent a bad situation from getting a lot worse.
About Our Practice
At Wolfe Dental Hillsboro, our team of highly skilled dentists are proud to combine their expertise to assist patients with a wide range of dental treatments in one convenient location. It is our goal to create lifelong patients, so we’ll never treat you like another number, or recommend a service you don’t want or need. To experience what sets us apart, come and visit us today.
To schedule an emergency appointment, please visit our website or call us today at 503-751-2735.