What Happens if You Swallow Dental Floss?

So you're flossing your teeth and somehow the floss goes down your throat. The first question is, "How did that just happen?" The second question is, "Is there a risk of problems?"

The Short Answer

Probably not a lot of problems will arise if you somehow swallow a piece of dental floss. If you swallowed an entire roll, there might be a problem, but as it is like all other things in life, it will pass.

Stomach

The floss will slide down your esophagus and reach the acids of your stomach. Over time, the acids in your stomach could dissolve a nail. It isn't likely a piece of floss will harm you.

Intestinal Issues

There is a small chance there might be some intestinal issues associated with the swallowing of dental floss. If the floss is backed up at all, it could lead to constipation, but it is not likely to happen.

Water

As a suggestion, start drinking a lot of water for the next few days. It will help to expand your stomach and your intestines.

Foods

Another suggestion is you can try to eat celery off the stalk. The celery will make its way through your digestive track and wind itself up as it moves down and scrape out anything that is sticking to your intestines (including the floss if it has made it that far). You will probably need to eat a couple pieces of the stalk a day to maximize the effectiveness of the celery.