Help! That piece of food is lodged under your gums and it won't come out. Don't worry, catching a stray popcorn kernel or tortilla chip crumb in your gumline every now and then is pretty common. However, you'll want to remove those lodged foreign bodies quickly so your gums don't get irritated or infected. Here's your next steps.
3 Tricks for Removing Food From Your Gums
If a quick jiggle with your tongue doesn't dislodge the food, don't persist or you could cause further irritation. Try these tips for removing food from under your gums instead:
- Swish a little water around your mouth. This could loosen up some of those stubborn food particles and free them from your gums.
- Grab a piece of dental floss. Gently work the floss in between your teeth and along your gums to dislodge the foreign body.
- Try a toothpick. Very, very carefully run the toothpick along the gumline, but be extra careful to not push the food deeper into the gum.
