"What Should I Do When I Have a Stuck Food in My Teeth?"
Food residue can be removed from teeth with a toothpick, but toothpicks may cause the gaps between teeth to become wider. It is recommended to use dental floss or a water flosser. If there is already decay on the adjacent surfaces of the teeth, the decayed tooth tissue can be ground away and then filled with dental filling materials, commonly composite resin material. If the gaps between teeth are relatively large, inlays can also be made to close the gaps. When picking teeth, the following treatment measures can be taken: probing, using a smooth bur, grinding away decayed tooth tissue, and making inlays. Details are as follows:
1. Using a Probe: Use a probe or toothpick to remove food residue and soft deposits from between teeth. Alternatively, dental floss or a water flosser can be used to remove food fibers.
2. Using a Smooth Bur: The occlusal cusp or marginal ridge can be trimmed to reduce food impaction. After expanding the embrasure with a smooth bur, food is easier to remove.
3. Grinding Away Decayed Tooth Tissue: When decay occurs on the adjacent surfaces of teeth, the decayed tooth tissue can be ground away and repaired using composite resin or other materials to restore good contact.
4. Making Inlays: When the gaps between teeth are large, inlays can be made to close the gaps. If necessary, teeth can be prepared and metal or full-ceramic crowns can be made.
5. Periodontal Treatment: Regular periodontal treatment is needed, which involves scaling and root planing to remove tartar and maintain periodontal cleanliness. This can prevent the further development of periodontal diseases and prevent further bone loss and worsening food impaction.
6. Orthodontic Treatment: If vertical food impaction is caused by uneven tooth alignment or filling cusps, orthodontic treatment or grinding down steep cusps can solve the problem of food impaction.
