toothpick
Sign in to savethumb|Wood toothpicks thumb|Oral B toothpicks thumb|Bamboo toothpick thumb|Curved metal toothpick (reusable) 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.
AI overview
A toothpick is a small thin stick made from materials like wood, plastic, bamboo, or metal, with pointed ends designed to remove food particles from between teeth after eating. Beyond dental use, toothpicks also serve decorative and practical purposes at celebrations, such as holding small appetizers or serving as cocktail sticks, and can be decorated with colorful frills or tiny paper accessories.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
8 sectionsContents
- History
- Materials and manufacture
- Dentistry
- See also
- Notes
- References
- External links
- Further reading
thumb|Wood toothpicks thumb|Oral B toothpicks thumb|Bamboo toothpick thumb|Curved metal toothpick (reusable) 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.
== History == 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". 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. 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. 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."