Toothpicks have been around for much longer than toothbrushes. Picking on the teeth with small wooden sticks were in practice in even before the arrival of mordern humans. Grooves have been found on the teeth of neanderthals’ remains from almost 7500 years back. This must have been the primordial method of getting rid of the food stuck in their mouth. Although it has evolved into a safer tool over the years, we have now begun questioning the necessity for Toothpicks.
Toothpicks can cause damages to the teeth and gums when not used properly. To avoid any complications, here are a few tips to avoid toothpick pricks.
- Moisten the toothpick rolling it over your tongue before using it. This way you could not get poked by the sharp edge and damage your gums.
- Use them only to dislodge large particles of food stuck on the top of your teeth. For all other particles, use floss or any interdental brush.
- Check the toothpick to make sure there is no possibility of any splinter breaking off while using it.
- If possible, choose plastic over wooden toothpicks.
Most Dentists do not advocate using toothpicks as there are more sophisticated tools and methods to clean one’s tooth. It does more harm than good in many cases and poses major threats – poking the gums, splinters getting into the mouth or even worse, the toothpick breaking and hurting you.
Toothpicks are a good choice for removing food particles immediately after eating. When used with care and sparsely, they are good ways to clean your mouth and keep those germs at bay!
