Toothpicks As A Dental Hygiene Tool
By Rolf Joho
A Brief History
Toothpicks have a very long history dating back thousands of years. The toothpick as a dental hygiene tool was used as far back as 536 BC in China. There is even a reference to toothpicks in the Old Testament of the Bible. The Middle Ages marked the height in toothpick use when people kept this dental hygiene tool in their mouths or behind their ear for ease of use. As with all things, toothpicks were first used by the wealthy and educated classes. In the 1700’s the toothbrush began to replace the toothpick in western cultures
Toothpicks have been made of many types of material over time. Some of the many materials have been:
Wood
Porcupine quill
Chicken bone
Ivory
Gold and Silver
Steel
In the United States, there are certain trees from Maine which are used to make most of the toothpicks we use today.
Toothpicks, or their equivalent, are still used in parts of the world as a common dental hygiene tool today.
Toothpicks as a dental hygiene tool are not as common in the US as they once were. Toothpicks were once common in many public places such as:
Dentist offices
Restaurants
Hotels
Public restrooms
Toothpicks
today are suggested for use sparingly as a method of cleaning and never to be considered as a substitute dental hygiene tool for brushing and flossing.
What’s Wrong With Toothpicks?
While toothpicks have stopped being one of the main dental hygiene tools in use in most western cultures, they are still used in situations where a toothbrush or other method is not available. The problem with toothpicks is in the overzealous use of them. Damage can be caused in various ways such as:
Damage to tooth enamel
Laceration of gums
Breaking of bonds or veneers
Severe root wear – especially where the gums have started to pull away from the tooth such as in older persons.
In severe cases can be broken by toothpicks
Habitual users of toothpicks as dental hygiene tools begin to show signs of tooth wear and damage and will eventually require more extensive care of the roots and gums. Eventually the use of a dental scaling tool is required to repair cracks and marks left behind by extensive toothpick use.
Proper use of toothpicks as a dental hygiene tool can still make them an effective method for removing food particles from between when needed. Proper use includes careful use and a light touch to loosen the object while not damaging the tooth or gum.
