There are few things more annoying than having a hull of popcorn stuck between your teeth. It can also be hazardous to your dental health. Popcorn hulls can easily take the shape of the crown of one of your teeth and slip between the tooth and the gums. This can cause painful swelling and many people don't even realize that a piece of popcorn is stuck there.
Step 1
Vigorously rinse your mouth with warm water. This is the simplest and most convenient way to remove popcorn from your teeth. Dental instruments are not always available, but you can usually find water. Try to force the water at high pressure within your mouth between the teeth where the popcorn is stuck.
Step 2
Brush your teeth. Focus the head of the toothbrush on the gum line and between the teeth where the popcorn is stuck. Use circular motions and try to project the bristles between the teeth and between each tooth and the gums.
Step 3
Floss your teeth. This should be your first step if floss is available, but it tends to be less accessible than water and a toothbrush. Use a long strand of dental floss and loop each end around your fingers several times. This prevents slipping and gives you a firm grip. Bend the dental floss around the teeth and slide it down between the teeth and the gums. This might hurt if the gums are swollen. It is important to get the dental floss beneath the popcorn to lift it out. Avoid pushing the popcorn further down.
Step 4
Try a toothpick. This might sound like an archaic way to remove popcorn from your teeth, but it often works better than water, toothbrushes and dental floss. Use only a new, clean, sharp toothpick. Try to poke the popcorn free without impaling your gums. Toothpicks can produce more direct force on popcorn stuck in teeth than other methods.
Step 5
Visit the dentist. This is your only option if the above methods did not work. Dentists can look directly into your mouth and see the popcorn stuck in your teeth. They also have special instruments to remove it. The process might be inconvenient and expensive, but it will work.
Tips and Warnings
- If the area of the mouth where the popcorn is stuck is swollen, rinse with warm salt water. This will soothe and disinfect the area.
Things You'll Need
- Dental floss
- Toothbrush
- Toothpick
