When a child swallows dental floss, parents often feel fear and uncertainty. This event is common, as young children frequently explore objects by putting them in their mouths. While most swallowed foreign objects pass without issue, caregivers need clear guidance. This article provides actionable instructions for immediate safety, monitoring, and recognizing rare signs of a serious problem.
Immediate Safety Assessment
The most pressing concern is whether the airway has been compromised. Immediately check if your child is breathing normally, speaking, or coughing effectively. Signs of severe distress include wheezing, gasping, inability to speak, or turning blue or very pale.
If your child is actively choking and cannot breathe or cough, call emergency services immediately. While waiting, deliver age-appropriate first aid, such as the Heimlich maneuver for older children, or back blows and chest thrusts for infants. If the child is coughing forcefully and breathing normally, the floss has likely passed into the digestive tract, and the immediate airway threat has resolved.
Why Swallowed Floss is Usually Low Risk
Dental floss is generally composed of thin, soft materials like nylon or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), often coated with wax. These materials are not digestible by the body’s enzymes or stomach acid, meaning they remain intact as they pass through the system. Because floss is not sharp or rigid, it rarely causes damage to the delicate lining of the esophagus or intestines.
The thin, flexible nature of the floss allows it to conform to the curves of the digestive tract. Unlike coins or small, round objects that can cause a complete obstruction, floss is considered low-risk for becoming lodged. Even if the floss contains trace elements of chemicals like Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), the risk from a single ingestion is negligible compared to long-term exposure.
Monitoring the Digestive Process
Once the floss has been swallowed, the primary step is to observe your child for its passage. In most cases, a small, soft foreign object will travel through the entire gastrointestinal tract within a few days. Monitor your child’s stool for the appearance of the floss, which typically occurs between 24 and 72 hours after ingestion.
Inspecting the child’s bowel movements for the object is helpful, but missing it is not cause for alarm if the child remains asymptomatic. Maintain a normal diet and ensure the child is well-hydrated to help the digestive system function smoothly. Do not attempt to induce vomiting or give laxatives, as these actions can sometimes cause more harm than good to the digestive tract.
Signs That Require Emergency Medical Attention
While the risk is low, specific symptoms signal a potential complication, such as intestinal obstruction or perforation, requiring immediate professional intervention. Persistent or projectile vomiting is a serious red flag, especially if the vomit is green or yellow-green, indicating a blockage below the stomach. Severe or worsening abdominal pain that does not resolve, or a distended, hard abdomen, suggests the floss may have caused an obstruction.
Other symptoms indicating an emergency include:
- Fever
- Blood in the stool or vomit
- An inability to pass gas or have a bowel movement for an extended period
- Lethargy, weakness, or refusal to eat or drink
Before seeking medical care, recall the exact time the floss was swallowed, the approximate length of the piece, and a detailed list of the child’s symptoms. This information will be highly valuable to the healthcare team.