Do you have any residue stuck in your teeth, but you don't have a toothpick available? Sometimes, you have to use your creativity a little and find something to clean your teeth without risking damaging your gums. There are several solutions, so look around for alternatives. Whatever you decide to use, be careful not to prick the gum, otherwise you could cut or damage it.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Using an Alternative Dental Device
Step 1. Use dental floss
It is the ideal tool to remove any residue stuck in the teeth. If you have some on hand or keep a roll of it in your desk drawer at work, this is your best bet. It is the safest and most effective way to get rid of food residues left between your teeth; take a piece about 30 cm long.
- Wrap each end around the index fingers of both hands, so that you have about 5 cm of free thread between the two fingers to be able to work in the mouth.
- Insert it into the space between two teeth to remove the residue; keep it well supported against a tooth, so as not to risk cutting the gum.
Step 2. Try an interdental stick
If you don't have dental floss handy or if you have difficulty using it when you are away from home or in general, this is a good and practical alternative.
- If you have a couple of these sticks in your desk at work, you should prefer them to toothpicks.
- The sticks allow you to clean interdental spaces quickly and efficiently without having to tinker with wire segments.
Step 3. Consider an interdental brush
If you don't have floss but still want to use a safe tool to remove food remnants from your teeth, you can use a pipe cleaner. It is a smaller tool than a regular toothbrush and is designed to fit between tooth and tooth. It comes in different sizes in both pharmacies and supermarkets, is a good alternative to dental floss, and is a safe way to get rid of residue stuck in your teeth.
Method 2 of 2: Use a Craft Toothpick
Step 1. Try using a piece of wire
If you don't have the interdental one, you can use a sewing one instead; it basically does the same job, but is less resistant and more likely to snap or get stuck. The advantage of sewing thread is that it is not difficult to find; you could even take one off whatever you're wearing to make makeshift floss.
Wrap the ends around your index fingers as you would with regular dental floss and insert it between each tooth; pay special attention, because it can be easily broken
Step 2. Look around for an alternative
If you don't have toothpicks, a wire or a pipe cleaner, it's time to get yourself something with a dull, flat tip that you can safely put in your mouth; if you are lucky, you can find several solutions. Try folding a sheet of paper and using it as a craft toothpick, or give it a try with a business card.
- If you are cautious, you can shape a straw to insert it between your teeth and stir up a piece of food; However, you run the risk that any object you use as a toothpick gets stuck in turn.
- Use only disposable and unimportant items.
Step 3. Give it a try with a fingernail
If you are unable to resolve the situation otherwise and you have long nails, you can try to loosen up a residue of food by inserting one along the side of the affected tooth. If you opt for this alternative and the fragment is in the upper arch, slide the nail from the gum line downwards; if the food is stuck in the lower one, move the nail from the gum upwards.
- In this way, you are sure not to direct the nail towards the gums, with the risk that the finger may lose its grip and consequently injure the gums themselves.
- Remember to wash your hands before and after this operation.
- Since there is a risk of injuring the gums, many dentists completely advise against using a toothpick.
