However, popcorn has one annoying feature due to its tough hull or shell. Here are five common techniques for removing kernels from your gums. Even the best pieces of popcorn have thin remnants of hull, but properly popped popcorn has less of a hard hull.
Gently brush your teeth from the tops down, reaching your gums. If you don’t have access to thread flossing, a good alternative is brushing your teeth. Flossing is a better way of removing popcorn, as it can reach between your gums and teeth, which your toothbrush cannot.
Everyone’s mouths come in various sizes and shapes, so now they can accommodate them. Oral healthcare brushes are incredibly advantageous and user-friendly. Your dentist in Austin, TX will recommend using interdental brushes during dental cleanings.
Brushing between your teeth can be challenging, especially if there are stubborn popcorn pieces stuck in between. Instead of forcefully trying to brush them out, it is better to insert a toothbrush between your teeth, gently contour and bend it to make it easier, and then soften them by soaking in warm water. This will make it easier to maneuver and remove any popcorn stuck in the indentations or concavities of your teeth.
2. Utilizing Dental Floss and Alternative Items.
We may not even realize that we have popcorn stuck between our teeth and gums until a few days later. Popcorn kernel hulls are the perfect shape and size for getting caught between our teeth and gums. To remove the popcorn, we can use the technique of the C-shape and a floss rope.
The likelihood of getting a kernel of popcorn increases, and using a recommended floss rope has a stronger grip. It is recommended to remove the kernel of popcorn from the gum list by using dental floss. It makes it difficult to remove, as the kernel of popcorn is slightly concave, allowing it to suction itself to the gums/tooth line.
Move the dental floss in a slow and gentle manner, gliding it up and down between the tooth and gums. If you prefer to avoid it going further beneath the gumline, exercise caution.
3. Contact Our Dentist in Austin TX.
It can lead to life-threatening complications because a kernel of popcorn left in your gums can cause an abscess. It can lead to infective endocarditis and the bacteria that accumulate around the kernel may enter your bloodstream or it may be able to cross the blood-brain barrier if it grows large enough.
To address the issue, it is recommended that you consult with either your dentist or dental hygienist at Lifetime Smiles Cosmetic Dentistry. In addition to identifying and removing plaque and food particles, your dental professional can conduct a thorough dental check-up and cleaning.
4. Employ Saltwater to Cleanse Your Oral Cavity.
Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater, especially if you have a piece of popcorn stuck deep within your gums. This is often the best option to try, but it is important to note that it is the least reliable method.
Warm saline solution can also assist in alleviating gum irritation caused by the uncomfortable popcorn fragment.
5. Utilize a Waterpik.
Utilize a mild yet efficient stream of water to displace the popcorn. They offer a plethora of advantages that dental floss lacks, however, they should not be considered as a substitute for flossing. Waterpiks also serve as an alternative method for extracting popcorn kernels that are lodged in the gums.