Sometimes, what we eat has a bad habit of sticking around longer than intended. Ketchup can leave behind stains on a white shirt, and garlic is notorious for causing bad breath. But some foods quite literally won’t go away, especially when they’re stuck in your teeth. Here are a few common culprits that are particularly dangerous to your smile, and what you can do to prevent a dental emergency if you’re not willing to give them up entirely!
Popcorn
Even the most perfectly aligned smiles have likely had a popcorn hull stuck in them at some point. These thin shells are famous for getting caught between the teeth. Unfortunately, not only can this be painful and unsightly, but it can also turn into a gum abscess, a painful infection that will require an emergency visit to your dentist. Thus, be sure to floss and brush your teeth after eating popcorn or look for a specialty hull-free variety to prevent this problem from happening in the first place.
Seeds
Small seeds like poppyseeds, sesame seeds, and even those tiny ones you find in some fruits and vegetables are all small enough to get caught between your teeth and underneath your gums. In fact, in one particularly weird case, a dentist reported a patient who thought he had a tooth infection actually had a tomato plant growing in his gums due to a trapped seed! While growing a garden in your mouth is thankfully not a regular occurrence, it does highlight the importance of regularly flossing and rinsing your mouth after eating foods with small seeds in them!
Spinach
Even Popeye knew that spinach is great for your body, but this isn’t always the case for your smile. Not only does the leafy green get caught between your teeth and cause embarrassment after eating, but even though it’s healthy, it can also cause bad breath and tooth decay if you don’t remove it!
Meat
Meat is a great source of protein, which is important for muscle development. But it can sometimes be tough and can easily get stuck between your teeth. Thus, be sure to eat softer preparations of protein like fish, chicken, or stewed meats, and if you do have anything harder to chew like steak or jerky, have some dental floss handy for when you’re done!
Crackers
Crackers may seem innocent enough since they’re not obviously loaded with sugar. But the truth is that it’s their fermentable starch content that causes the most damage to your smile, as this can feed those hungry bacteria responsible for cavities and gum disease. Thus, limit your intake of processed carbohydrates like crackers, and be sure to brush and floss well when you do indulge!
Remember, many nutritious and delicious foods can be beneficial to your body and still wreak havoc on your oral health, especially if they get stuck between your teeth. To prevent problems like cavities, infections, and gum disease, be sure to floss your teeth regularly, and if you find yourself struggling to remove trapped debris, contact your emergency dentist for help!
About Dr. Fitzgerald
Dr. Alison Fitzgerald is a skilled and compassionate dentist with an extensive education in a variety of aspects of dentistry. Dr. Fitzgerald has taken advanced courses with prestigious dental education organizations such as Partners in Synergy, the Kois Center, Progressive Orthodontics, and the American Orthodontic Society.
If you are suffering from a dental emergency such as a painfully trapped piece of food, please call Sweet Smiles Family Dentistry & Orthodontics for an urgent appointment at 520-338-2980.