A toothpick is a small thin stick of wood, plastic, bamboo, metal, bone or other substance with at least one and sometimes two pointed ends to insert between teeth to remove detritus, usually after a meal. Toothpicks are also used for festive occasions to hold or spear small appetizers (like cheese cubes or olives) or as a cocktail stick, and can be decorated with plastic frills or small paper umbrellas or flags.[1]
Wood toothpicksOral B toothpicksBamboo toothpickCurved metal toothpick (reusable)
Known in all cultures, the toothpick is the oldest instrument for dental cleaning. Hominin remains from Dmanisi, Georgia, dated to about 1.8 million years ago, bear lesions indicating the repeated use of a “toothpick”.[2][3] A Neanderthal man's jawbone found in the Cova Foradà in Spain evidenced use of a toothpick to alleviate pain in his teeth caused by periodontal disease and dental wear.[4] Toothpicks made of bronze have been found as burial objects in prehistoric graves in Northern Italy and in the East Alps. In 1986, researchers in Florida discovered the 7500-year-old remains of ancient Native Americans and discovered small grooves between many of the molar teeth.[5] One of the researchers, Justin Martin of Concordia University Wisconsin, said, "The enamel on teeth is quite tough, so they must have used the probes quite rigorously to make the grooves."[5]
Materials and manufacture
There are delicate, artistic examples made of silver in antiquity, as well as from mastic wood with the Romans.
Plastic interdental piks designed to prevent gingivitis, and wooden flat toothpicks.
In the 17th century, toothpicks were luxury objects and like jewelry, were artfully stylized using precious metal and set with expensive stones.
The first toothpick-manufacturing machine was developed in 1869, by Marc Signorello. Another was patented in 1872, by Silas Noble and J. P. Cooley.[7]
Wooden toothpicks are cut from birch wood. Logs are first spiral cut into thin sheets, which are then cut, chopped, milled and bleached (to lighten) into the individual toothpicks.[8] Nowadays other means of interdental cleaning are preferred such as dental floss, toothbrushes, and oral irrigators.
Dentistry
Dentists generally prefer floss to picks because of possible damages to oral health,[9] specifically to the gum, to tooth enamel (if chewed), to tooth roots (if the gum is pushed low enough). Picks may also damage veneers and crowns, have splinters, or be accidentally swallowed.[10]
A review of small-scale studies indicates that toothpicks and triangular woodsticks are similar in their ability to remove plaque.[11]
^Margvelashvili, A.; Zollikofer, C. P. E.; Lordkipanidze, D.; Peltomaki, T.; Ponce de Leon, M. S. (22 October 2013). "Tooth wear and dentoalveolar remodeling are key factors of morphological variation in the Dmanisi mandibles". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 110 (43): 17278–17283. Bibcode:2013PNAS..11017278M. doi:10.1073/pnas.1316052110. PMC3808665. PMID 24101504.
^Hogenboom, Melissa (8 October 2013). "'Ancient humans' used toothpicks". BBC News. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
^Lozano, Marina; Subirà, Maria Eulàlia; Aparicio, José; Lorenzo, Carlos; Gómez-Merino, Gala (2013). "Toothpicking and Periodontal Disease in a Neanderthal Specimen from Cova Foradà Site (Valencia, Spain)". PLOS ONE. 8 (10): e76852. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...876852L. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0076852. PMC3797767. PMID 24146934.
^ ab(AP) (06/22/1986). "Dentistry as practiced 5510 B.C.". Toronto Star.
^Charlotte Collins Bond. "Coonrod: Arkansas Tooth-pick." Madison County GAGenWeb archives. 1998. (Reprinted) Retrieved 5 July 2023.
^Mary Bellis. "History of the Toothbrush and Toothpaste". About.com Money.
^"But It's Just a Little Toothpick, How Threatening Can It Be". Northern Dental Design. 10 June 2021.
^Ng, E; Lim, LP (1 June 2019). "An Overview of Different Interdental Cleaning Aids and Their Effectiveness". Dentistry Journal. 7 (2): 56. doi:10.3390/dj7020056. PMC6630384. PMID 31159354.
External links
Media related to toothpicks at Wikimedia Commons
The dictionary definition of toothpick at Wiktionary
toothpick, toothpick, small, thin, stick, wood, plastic, bamboo, metal, bone, other, substance, with, least, sometimes, pointed, ends, insert, between, teeth, remove, detritus, usually, after, meal, also, used, festive, occasions, hold, spear, small, appetizer. A toothpick is a small thin stick of wood plastic bamboo metal bone or other substance with at least one and sometimes two pointed ends to insert between teeth to remove detritus usually after a meal Toothpicks are also used for festive occasions to hold or spear small appetizers like cheese cubes or olives or as a cocktail stick and can be decorated with plastic frills or small paper umbrellas or flags 1 Wood toothpicksOral B toothpicksBamboo toothpickCurved metal toothpick reusable Contents 1 History 2 Materials and manufacture 3 Dentistry 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External links 7 1 Further readingHistoryKnown in all cultures the toothpick is the oldest instrument for dental cleaning Hominin remains from Dmanisi Georgia dated to about 1 8 million years ago bear lesions indicating the repeated use of a toothpick 2 3 A Neanderthal man s jawbone found in the Cova Forada in Spain evidenced use of a toothpick to alleviate pain in his teeth caused by periodontal disease and dental wear 4 Toothpicks made of bronze have been found as burial objects in prehistoric graves in Northern Italy and in the East Alps In 1986 researchers in Florida discovered the 7500 year old remains of ancient Native Americans and discovered small grooves between many of the molar teeth 5 One of the researchers Justin Martin of Concordia University Wisconsin said The enamel on teeth is quite tough so they must have used the probes quite rigorously to make the grooves 5 Materials and manufactureThere are delicate artistic examples made of silver in antiquity as well as from mastic wood with the Romans nbsp Plastic interdental piks designed to prevent gingivitis and wooden flat toothpicks In the 17th century toothpicks were luxury objects and like jewelry were artfully stylized using precious metal and set with expensive stones In the Southern United States the baculum penis bone of a raccoon called a coon rod a was sometimes filed to a point for use as a toothpick 6 The first toothpick manufacturing machine was developed in 1869 by Marc Signorello Another was patented in 1872 by Silas Noble and J P Cooley 7 Wooden toothpicks are cut from birch wood Logs are first spiral cut into thin sheets which are then cut chopped milled and bleached to lighten into the individual toothpicks 8 Nowadays other means of interdental cleaning are preferred such as dental floss toothbrushes and oral irrigators DentistryDentists generally prefer floss to picks because of possible damages to oral health 9 specifically to the gum to tooth enamel if chewed to tooth roots if the gum is pushed low enough Picks may also damage veneers and crowns have splinters or be accidentally swallowed 10 A review of small scale studies indicates that toothpicks and triangular woodsticks are similar in their ability to remove plaque 11 See alsoOral hygiene Teeth cleaning twigNotes Other nicknames are Alabama toothpick Arkansas toothpick mountain man toothpick and Texas toothpick References The Marketing Genius Who Brought Us the Toothpick Slate Magazine N p n d Web 23 Nov 2012 lt http www slate com articles business and tech design 2007 10 stick figure single html gt Margvelashvili A Zollikofer C P E Lordkipanidze D Peltomaki T Ponce de Leon M S 22 October 2013 Tooth wear and dentoalveolar remodeling are key factors of morphological variation in the Dmanisi mandibles Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 110 43 17278 17283 Bibcode 2013PNAS 11017278M doi 10 1073 pnas 1316052110 PMC 3808665 PMID 24101504 Hogenboom Melissa 8 October 2013 Ancient humans used toothpicks BBC News Retrieved 29 August 2021 Lozano Marina Subira Maria Eulalia Aparicio Jose Lorenzo Carlos Gomez Merino Gala 2013 Toothpicking and Periodontal Disease in a Neanderthal Specimen from Cova Forada Site Valencia Spain PLOS ONE 8 10 e76852 Bibcode 2013PLoSO 876852L doi 10 1371 journal pone 0076852 PMC 3797767 PMID 24146934 a b AP 06 22 1986 Dentistry as practiced 5510 B C Toronto Star Charlotte Collins Bond Coonrod Arkansas Tooth pick Madison County GAGenWeb archives 1998 Reprinted Retrieved 5 July 2023 Mary Bellis History of the Toothbrush and Toothpaste About com Money How It s Made Toothpicks acrylic bathtubs helicopters beer The Discovery Channel Does using toothpick dangerous to your teeth Northbrook Dentist Office Archived from the original on 2020 07 29 But It s Just a Little Toothpick How Threatening Can It Be Northern Dental Design 10 June 2021 Ng E Lim LP 1 June 2019 An Overview of Different Interdental Cleaning Aids and Their Effectiveness Dentistry Journal 7 2 56 doi 10 3390 dj7020056 PMC 6630384 PMID 31159354 External links nbsp Media related to toothpicks at Wikimedia Commons nbsp The dictionary definition of toothpick at Wiktionary Video how toothpicks are manufacturedFurther reading Petroski Henry 2007 10 16 The Toothpick Technology and Culture Knopf ISBN 978 0 307 26636 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Toothpick amp oldid 1167502696, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
