You finish lunch and there it is again.
That tiny piece of food wedged between the exact same two teeth. You reach for the floss, get it out and carry on with your day. Then dinner comes around and somehow you’re back in exactly the same situation.
Food getting caught between your teeth every now and then is completely normal. But if it keeps happening in one particular spot, there may be a reason why.
Why Does It Keep Happening in the Same Place?
Ideally, neighbouring teeth have contact points that help prevent food from being pushed into the space between them when you chew.
If something changes around that area, however, a small space can develop or food may become easier to trap.
Sometimes it can be related to the natural shape or position of your teeth. In other cases, it may be associated with changes to your gums, tooth decay, a chipped tooth or an existing filling or restoration.
Even a relatively small change can be enough for you to suddenly notice that your lunch has found a new favourite hiding place.
It Could Be a Change in Your Gums
Your gums help fill the spaces around and between your teeth.
If the gum tissue changes or recedes, spaces that weren’t as noticeable before may become more exposed. This can make it easier for certain foods to become trapped.
You may also notice other changes at the same time, such as sensitivity around the gumline or teeth appearing slightly longer than they used to.
An Existing Filling Could Be Involved
Fillings and other dental restorations are designed to restore the shape and function of a tooth, but they can change over time.
Normal wear, damage or changes around a restoration can sometimes affect the contact between neighbouring teeth. If you’ve recently noticed food getting stuck somewhere it never used to, an existing filling is one of the things we may check.
What About a Cavity?
Tooth decay can sometimes change the shape or surface of a tooth.
Depending on where it develops, this may create an area where food can become trapped more easily.
The tricky part is that early decay doesn’t always hurt. You may notice something as simple as food repeatedly catching in an area before you experience any discomfort.
That’s one reason it’s worth mentioning new changes when you come in for an appointment.
Why You Shouldn’t Just Ignore It
Having to floss the same spot after every meal might seem more annoying than concerning, but repeatedly trapped food can make it harder to keep the area clean.
Food particles and plaque sitting between the teeth can contribute to irritation around the gums and increase the risk of dental problems developing in an area that’s already difficult to clean.
It can also become a frustrating cycle. Food gets stuck, you try to remove it, the area becomes tender and then the next meal starts the whole process again.
What Can You Do About It?
Flossing is one of the simplest ways to remove food caught between your teeth. Depending on the size of the space, an interdental brush may also be useful.
The important thing is to be gentle. Trying to force sharp objects between your teeth can damage your gums or teeth and potentially make the situation worse.
And while cleaning the area can remove the food, it doesn’t necessarily explain why it keeps getting stuck there.
When Should You Have It Checked?
If food has always occasionally caught between certain teeth and nothing has changed, it may simply be the way your teeth sit together.
But if it’s a new problem, happens frequently or is accompanied by pain, sensitivity, bleeding gums, swelling or a noticeable change to a tooth or filling, it’s worth having us take a look.
Sometimes there may be a straightforward explanation. Other times, that annoying little food trap can be an early clue that something in the area has changed.
Got a Spot That Drives You Crazy?
If you find yourself reaching for the floss after every meal because food keeps getting caught in exactly the same place, mention it next time you come and see us.
We can check the teeth, gums and any existing dental work around the area to see what might be causing it and talk you through your options if anything needs attention.
Get in touch with our team to book an appointment.
Recent Comments