toothpick

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Wood toothpicks

Toothpick

A toothpick is a small stick of wood, plastic, bamboo, metal or other substance used to remove detritus from the teeth, usually after a meal. Some toothpicks are made from animal bones as opposed to wood. A toothpick usually has one or two sharp ends to insert between teeth. They can also be used for picking up small appetizers (like cheese cubes or olives) or as a cocktail stick.

American wooden toothpicks are cut from birch wood. Logs are first spiral cut into thin sheets, which are then cut, chopped and milled into the individual toothpicks.^[1] Maine is the leading producer of toothpicks for the United States. Worldwide, Brazil has the highest export rate of toothpicks.

History

The toothpick has been around longer than our species. The skulls of Neanderthals, as well as Homo sapiens, have shown clear signs of having teeth that were picked with a tool.^[2]

It is the oldest instrument for dental cleaning. Toothpicks are well-known in all cultures. Before the toothbrush was invented, one cleaned one's teeth with hard and soft dental woods. Toothpicks made of bronze have been found as burial objects in prehistoric graves in Northern Italy and in the East Alps. It was also well-known in Mesopotamia.

There are delicate, artistic examples made of silver in antiquity, as well as from mastic wood with the Romans.

In the 17th century toothpicks were luxury objects similar to jewellery items. They were formed from precious metal and set with expensive stones. Frequently they were artistically stylized and enameled.

The first toothpick-manufacturing machine was developed in 1869, by Charles Forster.^[3] Another was patented in 1872, by Silas Noble and J. P. Cooley.^[4]

Nowadays other means of dental hygiene are preferred such dental floss and toothbrushes.

See also

• Oral hygiene
• Teeth cleaning twig

References

Further reading

• Petroski, Henry (2007-10-16). The Toothpick: Technology and Culture. Knopf. ISBN 978-0307266361. http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307266361&view=excerpt. 

External links

• Video - how toothpicks are manufactured