You just finished eating a delicious meal with your special someone when you suddenly realize that you feel a small bit of food stuck between your teeth. Reaching for a toothpick on your way out, you attempt to remove the lodged object. If this situation sounds familiar, it’s likely because these small wooden sticks seem to be the go-to solution when food debris becomes stuck between teeth; however, did you know they can cause serious damage to your smile? Read on to learn why it’s best to avoid toothpicks and what you should use instead.

What Makes Toothpicks Dangerous?

Although commonly found in most restaurants and cabinets within your home, toothpicks might seem harmless, but they can be very dangerous if you are not careful. In fact, you could end up visiting your emergency dentist if any of the following occur:

• Broken toothpick – When attempting to remove food, a toothpick can break or splinter and become lodged in your gums, resulting in a painful situation.
• Damaged restorations – If attempting to remove a piece of food from your teeth, you could accidentally damage a dental filling, veneer, or another similar restoration.
• Infection – Depending on how rough you are when using a toothpick, you could damage your gums, resulting in a serious infection.

What Alternative Options Are Available?

Instead of reaching for a toothpick when you have something stuck between your teeth, many other solutions are much safer and more comfortable to use. Also, any one of the following alternatives will reduce your risk of needing an immediate visit to your emergency dentist’s office:

• Dental floss
• Dental flossers
• Water irrigator (i.e., WaterPik)
• Interdental brush

Naturally, dental floss is the most commonly recommended method because of how easy it is to remove a lodged object. If you’re already using it daily to take care of your teeth, you will feel more comfortable maneuvering it so that the food will dislodge.

Should an accident occur, though, make sure to seek immediate treatment so that a more serious issue does not develop. Toothpicks might seem like a good idea; however, if you want to avoid a dental emergency, try a different solution to better safeguard your smile.

About the Practice
Generations Dental Care has been treating residents of Concord for more than 100 years. With a skilled and talented team of dental experts on staff, we make it easy for individuals to get emergency dental care should a sudden injury occur. No matter the problem, we can quickly administer treatment to help patients out of pain and back on their way to enjoying life with a damage-free smile. If you or a loved one are suffering from a dental emergency, visit our website or call (603) 225-6331.