There are times when a piece of food or a piece of a foreign object can get stuck in your gums. This is even more likely if you have a habit of chewing on foreign objects like pencils and pens. The first thing to do to try remedy the situation is rinse the area vigorously with lukewarm salt water. Even if this doesn’t dislodge the object from your gum line, it will help soothe irritated tissues.
In some instances, an object in your gum line might cause pressure discomfort or pain. But even if you are in distress, it’s important not to panic. You should never try to use toothpicks or sharp, pointed tools to pry the object out of your gums. This could cause even greater injury and damage to sensitive oral tissues.
The next thing to reach for is waxed dental floss. The waxy coating allows the strand to slide easier between teeth to be worked around the foreign object. You should never force the floss into place, as it could seriously injure your gums. If waxed dental floss can’t dislodge the object you could try a dental fountain or oral water jet.
If you still can’t easily remove the object you can call our experienced dental team in Essex Junction, Vermont at 802-879-7811 to schedule an appointment to have the object professionally extracted from your gum line. Dr. J. Scott Thompson, DMD and Erica Grayson DiGuglielmo, DDS are happy to help you with all of your dental needs!