Common "Food Impaction" queries answered by top doctors | iCliniq

Food Impaction

Food impaction is when the food you chew gets stuck in between your teeth or on a tooth cavity. These areas of the tooth can be challenging to clean with only brushing, which makes it an excellent environment to grow and multiply. To treat this, get your decayed tooth filled and floss every day to prevent bacterial infection.

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All the answers published in this website are written by verified medical doctors, therapists and health experts. The Content has been moderated by iCliniq medical review team before publication. Post your medical clarifications on iCliniq by choosing the right specialty and get them answered. Your medical queries will be answered 24/7 by top doctors from iCliniq.

Please check my X-ray and tell me the reason for my tooth pain.

Query: Hello doctor, I have pain in my tooth. After the x-ray, the dentist said it is ok. But I still cannot chew food and drinks are painful. Kindly suggest me a second opinion.  Read Full »


Dr. Gaurav Kumar Pandey

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. As I can see in x-ray, (attachment removed to protect patient identity) nothing serious. But one thing I noticed is the space between fifth, and sixth tooth and the space between the sixth and seventh tooth are wider than usual. I think there may be food lodgment tha...  Read Full »

I have pain and swelling in my gums after the extraction. Why?

Query: Hello doctor, Four days ago, I had surgery to remove four impacted wisdom teeth and one molar extraction. Yesterday, I began to develop swelling of the gums near the bottom right incision. Today, it has grown into a bubble covering the top of my back molar. The swollen gum covers one-quarter of the ...  Read Full »


Dr. Tooba Qazi

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I checked your reports (attachments removed to protect patient's identity). Clinically, it is a sign of mild gum infection. Now you can do the following steps to overcome this problem: 1. Take Metronidazole (antibiotic) 400 mg twice daily, Augmentin (antibiotic) 625 m...  Read Full »

How can I address food getting stuck between the teeth?

Query: Hi doctor,I have a spot that I think may be considered a pocket or may just be a spot between my molars where I get food stuck. I have had problems with inflammation from food getting stuck in there. I got a Waterpik and the tool worked like a charm. So I am in a pinch now. I am traveling and I lost...  Read Full »


Dr. Divya Banu M

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Yes, such food lodgements are quite irritating. If the gap is narrow, you can use floss. But, I guess you have a wide gap. For that, you can use interdental brushes (available in different sizes in a single pack - looks like miniature bottle brushes). You just have t...  Read Full »

I have bleeding gums. Why?

Query: Hi doctor, I have bleeding gums over only one tooth. The gums are neither swollen nor painful. But, I have bright red lining just above that tooth when I finish brushing. I would like to stress that it is the only area that bleeds. Also, the next to that tooth I had a root canal treatment before two...  Read Full »


Dr. Naveen Thomas

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. It seems to be a gum injury, which you had while brushing or infection due to food impaction in that area. It can be also due to the irregular biting relation of the upper and lower canine teeth. It is definitely not related to the nearby root canal treatment. You sh...  Read Full »

My wisdom tooth is hurting with a flap covering the tooth. Should I get it removed?

Query: Hello doctor, My wisdom teeth is hurting. There is a big flap covering the tooth, and I think food is stuck in there. Should I get this one removed?  Read Full »


Dr. Prerna Jain

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. This is called pericoronitis. Food gets trapped under the gums. You need to send in pictures and x-ray (orthopantomogram) for a conclusive diagnosis. Two things can be done. 1. At home, you can use a syringe with clean boiled or distilled water or with Betadine (dilut...  Read Full »

Why is the gum at the back paining even though I do not have a wisdom tooth?

Query: Hello doctor, I am an 18 year old, who dislikes visiting the dentist. Therefore, you can imagine my hygiene is very good. I had a brief period of gingivitis as a result of using braces for three years. Having removed my braces over a year ago, and lucky for me, I do not have wisdom teeth, the end of...  Read Full »


Dr. Shamaz Mohamed

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I feel that there could be an infection around the gums, probably due to some food lodgement or other foreign particles. I predict infection due to the duration of five days, which is sufficient for it to initiate. As you are going for a regular cleaning, you can be ass...  Read Full »

I am suffering from severe pain near the third molar teeth. What should I do?

Query: Hello doctor, I am suffering from severe pain near the third molar teeth. It feels sore and has a bluish discoloration. I have not taken any medications for the pain; however, I was on treatment for piles and liver infection. Kindly help  Read Full »


Dr. Geethanjali. S. S

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for your query. I understand your concern. Pain in the third molar region could be due to various reasons. The excruciating pain could be due to a hidden decay in the tooth and food impaction near the third molars. The bluish discoloration indicates a poss...  Read Full »

Can hitting behind molar a bunch of times cause any medical issues?

Query: Hello doctor,Today after a meal I had some food particles stuck in my top molar all the way in the back. I took my toothbrush and tried to scrub it out real well to get it. While brushing, I put the toothbrush real far back into my mouth to really try and clean that last molar. In the process, I jab...  Read Full »


Dr. Naseer Ahmad Bhat

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have been through your query and as far as I understood I came to a conclusion that if you go far behind your teeth bearing area there is hard and soft tissue which you may injure yourself. The region behind your third molar is hard tissue called ramus of the mandi...  Read Full »

Why is the area around my last tooth swollen?

Query: Hi doctor, I am having a swelling around my tooth. Also, one side of the wisdom tooth is infected. I feel pain over the area. What to do?  Read Full »


Dr. Naveen Thomas

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. The swelling is mainly due to infection around the wisdom tooth due to food lodgement behind it. It is called pericoronitis, which has two solution. One is you can take antibiotics and painkillers to reduce the swelling and then do a small flap surgery to remove the ove...  Read Full »

Should I be concerned about the tooth decay between my lower teeth?

Query: Hello doctor, I have tooth decay in between my lower teeth. I came to know about it when I flossed. There is no constant pain; however, there is a pain when I eat or drink something very cold or hot. Also, previously I had calculus in that area which my dentist has cleared out. I have a doctor's ap...  Read Full »


Dr. Bhavika Gandhi

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. There is only calculus between your front teeth. I suggest you get scaling and polishing done by a dentist, followed by proper oral health care. You must brush twice daily, floss properly, and use mouthwash for at least a month. Also, I s...  Read Full »

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