What to do if meat gets stuck in your teeth

Some people always have food stuck in their teeth when eating meat. At this time, some people like to use toothpicks to pick out the food. If the toothpick is used improperly, it may cause great harm to the gums and teeth. In fact, the best way is to use dental floss. Dental floss is relatively gentle and can penetrate into the gaps between teeth that toothpicks cannot reach. It helps to remove food debris and is less harmful to the gums and teeth.

Toothbrush can't reach it? Toothpicks and dental floss to help

The toothpick has a brother called dental floss. Both of them can not only remove food stuck between teeth, but also remove dental plaque and soft deposits.

We know that brushing can only clean the exposed parts of the teeth, while the bristles of the toothbrush cannot reach some hidden parts well. Therefore, even if we brush our teeth very carefully, we cannot clean these areas, causing them to become hygiene "blind spots".

Toothpicks and dental floss are definitely useful tools. The key is to choose and use them correctly. They can be used as a supplement to daily brushing to play their role in dental care. Otherwise, it may be counterproductive.

Although toothpicks are small, careless use can hurt your teeth and your body

1. Although toothpicks are small, they can carry tens of thousands of bacteria: Toothpicks that are not strictly disinfected or poorly managed may carry tens of thousands of bacteria. Bacteria and viruses can enter the body through the toothpicks and easily cause disease.

2. Improper use of toothpicks can cause periodontal disease: Improper use of toothpicks can cause gingivitis, gum atrophy, increased tooth spaces and lead to periodontal disease.

Toothpicks are best used when there are spaces between teeth. If the gums are normal and the teeth are compact, the toothpick should only be used in the gingival sulcus (the small groove between the gums and the neck of the tooth, which is normally about 1-2 mm deep). Do not press the toothpick hard between the teeth, because this will create gaps between teeth where there is no gap, making it easier for food to get stuck in the teeth.

When the gums are clogged, people use toothpicks to pick them out over and over again, which becomes a vicious cycle and increases the space between teeth and shrinks the gums, causing periodontal disease and affecting the appearance and function.

3. The habit of holding a toothpick in your mouth may cost you your life: Back then, the movie "A Better Tomorrow" was very popular. The main character, Mark, had a habit of holding a toothpick in his mouth. Later, people imitated him and thought it was cool. But in reality, some people accidentally swallowed the toothpicks they were holding, which pierced their small intestine and almost cost them their lives, so this habit is not good.

The following 4 tips will help you choose the dental floss that suits you

1. When choosing dental floss, it is best not to choose branch-shaped dental floss. This type of dental floss is shorter and difficult to enter the periodontal pocket. Moreover, one strand can only clean one tooth, which is relatively wasteful. It is best to use dental floss that is rolled into a reel so that you can pull it at will, or a bow-shaped line.

2. The choice should vary from person to person. If your gums are easily irritated or you have bad breath, you can choose dental floss with mint or other flavors, or dental floss with fluoride and other antibacterial ingredients, which can be antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.

3. When passing through very tight spaces between teeth, if you are worried that the dental floss may be worn or torn into thin strips, you can choose waxed dental floss.

4. For those who are not good at flossing with their hands, a small floss holder can be used