Oral Health – The Potential Consequences Of Trapped Food

What problems might affect our Ipswich patients if food gets stuck between their teeth?

Unless we are drinking liquids, it is almost inevitable that some food particles will become stuck between our teeth when we eat a meal or even snacks. This is natural and much of this will be washed away over a period of time as we produce saliva. Brushing and flossing our teeth is essential too in order to help remove any remaining food debris that remains stuck. In an ideal world, this would resolve the issue completely, but this is often not the case.

Some people have teeth that are more prone to trapped food. An example of this might be someone with crooked teeth that leave tight spaces where tiny pieces of food become easily trapped. As these areas are also likely to be difficult to keep clean, problems can then arise.

Patients that wear the traditional type of braces with wires and brackets, also face a particular challenge as these can trap food quite easily. Consequently special care will need to be taken to keep your teeth and braces clean. For anyone who has not yet started treatment, we recommend that you ask our Ipswich dentists about the more modern approach of orthodontic systems such as Invisalign which uses a more tooth friendly system altogether.

The other problem, of course, is that not everyone brushes their teeth as well as they should and only around one in five of us use dental floss, simply exacerbating the issues.

So what issues can occur?

The most obvious problem that patients of the Foxhall Dental Practice might expect if food becomes trapped over a period of time is tooth decay. This happens because the bacteria in our mouth seek out food sources which are provided even by tiny pieces of trapped food. As the bacteria use these food particles, they produce a type of acid. It is this that starts to attack and damage the harder and protective enamel on the tooth. Once the enamel becomes compromised and the underlying dentin layer exposed, bacteria enter the inner part of the tooth and this is when decay starts.

If you don’t currently see a dentist or have missed appointments, this damage might not be picked up in the early stages where a small filling would have resolved the matter. If allowed to develop, you are likely to experience a toothache as the nerves become infected. In some cases, the bacteria may also enter the root canals of the tooth, infecting the pulp material in that area. This can only be resolved with a root canal procedure.

The other common issue that may occur is gum disease. Again, bacteria are responsible for this and in addition to damaging tooth enamel, may also start to affect the gums. This can lead to symptoms such as sore and inflamed gums, bleeding and/or problems with bad breath. At its advanced stage, known as periodontitis, it is not only the gums which become infected but also the roots of the tooth and the supporting bone structure. When this happens, the bone starts to degrade and teeth may become wobbly or even fall out.

As you can see, even when small pieces of food become trapped, it can lead to devastating consequences. All is not lost though and there are a number of things that you can do to help minimise the risk of problems caused in this way.

Tips for reducing problems caused by trapped food

The most obvious way to do this is to make sure that you brush your teeth well and use dental floss. Have a look at your toothbrush and think about when you last bought a new one, or a replacement head in the case of an electric toothbrush. If it is more than three months ago, it is time to change it. Worn bristles are ineffective at removing food debris and bacteria.

When you brush your teeth, stop and think exactly ‘how’ you are brushing them. If you are ‘flat brushing’ them, this is not the most effective way. Although the flat enamel surface is important, you also need to angle the bristles so that they can remove food and bacteria from the gum line. You should also, of course, make sure that you brush them for the full two minutes that is recommended.

Perhaps the biggest and easiest improvement that most people can make is to start using tooth floss. This is a great way to remove trapped food and we suspect you will be surprised how much food is trapped when you do use it. If you find it difficult to do, ask the dental hygienist when you have an appointment with them at our local Ipswich clinic. They will be happy to demonstrate how to do this correctly.

One additional ‘trick’ which can be really useful too is to swill water around your mouth at the end of a meal as this will remove some of the larger debris. You still need to brush and floss though.

Finally, you should seek professional help on a regular basis. This means a six monthly appointment with both the dentist and with the hygienist. The latter is especially important in the fight against gum disease. They can not only offer advice on improvements you can make in your daily oral health care regime but provide a ‘scale and polish’ that professionally cleans your teeth and gums in a way that home care simply can’t.

Whether you think you have a problem with food becoming trapped in your teeth or not, problems can still occur and your oral health should be monitored regularly. To make an appointment with one of our dentists or the hygienist, please call the Foxhall Dental Practice on 01473 258396.