Removal of Foreign Bodies in Kitchener

A popcorn hull wedged under the gum can feel enormous. So can a sliver of fish bone, a bristle from a toothbrush or the broken tip of a toothpick. These are small things, but left in place they can make the gum swell, ache and eventually get infected. At Fairway Dental in Kitchener we remove objects stuck between teeth, under the gums and in the soft tissues of the mouth. Below you’ll find what’s safe to try yourself, what to avoid, and when to come in.

What gets stuck and where

The list of things we’ve found in people’s mouths is long, but most fall into a few categories.

Food

Popcorn hulls, the classic, which slip under the gum line and hide
Seeds from raspberries, sesame and poppy seeds
Small fish or chicken bones
Fibrous meat strands packed between teeth
Nut fragments and hard tortilla chip edges

Everyday objects

Splinters from toothpicks or wooden utensils
Bits of floss that shredded on a rough edge
Pieces of pen caps or fingernails for people who chew them
Small toy parts or beads in young children

Dental materials

Fragments of a broken filling or temporary crown
A loose bracket or broken wire from braces
Bits of tooth after a chip or fracture

Where the object ends up matters. Something jammed between two teeth is usually easy to reach. Something pushed beneath the gum, into the cheek, or into a healing extraction socket is harder to see and more likely to cause trouble.

Safe things to try at home

Many stuck objects come out with a little patience. Try these, gently:

Rinse hard with warm water, swishing it forcefully between your teeth.
Floss on both sides of the spot. Tie a small knot in the floss and pull it through the contact to catch whatever is there.
Use an interdental brush or a water flosser if you have one.
Brush the area at an angle toward the gum line with a soft brush.
Rinse with warm salt water afterwards to calm the gum.

What not to do

Don’t dig with pins, knives, paper clips or anything sharp. It’s easy to cut the gum and push the object deeper.
Don’t keep picking for hours. Repeated poking tears the tissue and makes swelling worse.
Don’t use your fingernails, which carry bacteria into an already irritated spot.
Don’t ignore it if it won’t come out. A trapped hull or splinter can lead to a gum abscess within a few days.

When to come in

Call us if:

You’ve tried gently for a day and the object is still there
The gum around the spot is swollen, red, throbbing or bleeding
Something sharp is stuck in your tongue, cheek or the roof of your mouth
You can’t see or reach it but you’re sure something is in there
A piece of a dental restoration has broken off and lodged somewhere

Go to the hospital if

If someone has inhaled an object or it’s lodged in the throat and they’re coughing, choking or struggling to breathe, call 911. If a child may have swallowed something sharp or a button battery, go to an emergency department right away. Button batteries can cause serious burns very quickly.

How we remove it in the office

Finding it

The dentist starts with a good look under bright light and magnification. Gentle air and water spray can clear the area so we can see. If the object is hidden under the gum or deep in soft tissue, an X-ray can help locate it, although some materials like wood and plastic don’t show up well. Then we rely on careful probing and your description of where it hurts.

Getting it out

For something between teeth or just under the gum edge, removal is often quick and doesn’t need freezing. The dentist uses fine instruments designed to slide under the gum without damaging it. For deeper objects, or a sore, swollen area, we numb it first. Occasionally a tiny opening is needed to reach a buried fragment, and a stitch or two may be placed afterwards.

Treating the area

Once it’s out, the area is flushed clean. If the gum was infected, the dentist may drain it and, if needed, recommend further treatment. We’ll also check why it got stuck. A food trap between two teeth often points to a gap, a cavity or a broken filling edge that’s worth fixing so it doesn’t keep happening.

Kids and objects in the mouth

Young children explore with their mouths, so we see our share of beads, small toy pieces and bits of crayon. Toddlers also push things into the gaps where baby teeth have come out. If your child is breathing and talking normally, look in their mouth with a flashlight. If you can see the object and it’s loose, you can sweep it out with a finger. If it’s wedged in, don’t dig blindly, since you can push it further back. Call us and we’ll tell you whether to come in.

Older kids and teens with braces have their own set of problems. Food packs around brackets, elastic bands snap and wires poke. We can help clear things out and make them comfortable, then point you back to the orthodontist for adjustments.

Objects in a healing socket

After an extraction, the empty socket is a natural trap for food. A small amount of food in the socket isn’t usually harmful and tends to wash out with gentle rinsing after the first day. Don’t use a toothpick or water flosser aimed directly into a fresh socket, since it can dislodge the blood clot and lead to dry socket. If something feels stuck, the area smells bad, or pain is building a few days after the extraction, call us and we’ll flush it gently and check how it’s healing.

Aftercare

Rinse with warm salt water a few times a day for two or three days
Brush gently around the area and resume flossing as it feels comfortable
Expect some tenderness for a day or two
Call us if swelling increases, you see pus, or you develop a fever

Questions

Why does food keep getting stuck in the same spot?

Usually because of a space between teeth, a cavity, a chipped filling or gum recession. Fixing the cause stops the cycle.

It’s been a few days and now my gum is swollen. Is that related?

Very likely. A trapped popcorn hull or seed is one of the most common causes of a sudden gum abscess. Come in so we can clean it out properly.

I swallowed a piece of my filling. Should I worry?

Small pieces of filling or crown usually pass through the digestive system without trouble. The bigger concern is the tooth it came from, which is now exposed. Call us to have it repaired. If you think you inhaled the piece and you’re coughing or short of breath, get medical help right away.

Can you remove a broken braces wire that’s poking me?

We can trim or tuck it to stop the poking, and let you know to follow up with your orthodontist for a proper repair.

If something is stuck in your teeth or gums and won’t budge, call Fairway Dental in Kitchener at 519-893-9494. We’ll find it, take it out safely and check that the area heals well.

Related treatments

Questions or ready to book? Contact our Kitchener office or call 519-893-9494.