Meat! Sheer horror runs through our minds when we think of the heavenly grandiose preparation. The vibe of horror comes from the aggravating former encounter of an annoying piece of food stuck between the teeth. Apparently, in such scenarios, wooden toothpicks come to the rescue, as it seems to be the most convenient and easiest way to get rid of the pesky bit of meat playing hide and seek between your teeth. The toothpick may be the most effective dental tool in history, but honestly, it was never gentle on the teeth, and excessive use of a toothpick deteriorates the condition of the teeth, harming both your teeth and your gum.
The Grand History
Time has replaced wooden wheels with modern tires, but the wooden toothpick still holds the crown as an effective dental cleaning tool. The purpose of dental cleaning tools is to get rid of food particles and bacteria from between the teeth quickly. Long before the toothbrush was invented (we’re talking about Neanderthals and Homo sapiens), bones and wooden picks were used to keep teeth clean.
The modern toothpick as we know it didn’t come until the 1800s. Did you know that the toothpick was popular among the upper class as it was made of gold, silver, or ivory? In 1865, when Charles Foster began selling disposable toothpicks and created a market for them, he invented a machine to help mass produce them due to high demand.
- Toothpick: Threat to your smile
The wooden toothpick can leave a big dent in your smile, and if you ask us, we would recommend making it your last resort. One should avoid a wooden toothpick at all costs. Just in case you don’t have an interdental brush, you may use a toothpick, but try to get hold of an interdental brush as soon as possible. Along with your teeth, toothpicks are also extremely dangerous for your oral health. Here are three major reasons:
- Toothpicks scrape the enamel
Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body with the highest percentage of minerals, so too much toothpick usage or too much aggression may scrape off your tooth enamel. The enamel protects the inner layer of your tooth where the blood vessels and nerves are located, so keeping the enamel safe will keep your smile intact.
- Bad for Gums
Your gum is made up of sensitive tissue, and poking and prodding them with a toothpick may result in irritation leading to inflammation. Long-term use of picks will cause your gum to recede and pull away from your teeth.
It isn’t worth it.
Removing the food isn’t the only solution if you want to get rid of the annoying piece of meat in your teeth. STIM interdental brushes give you the fastest relief you’re looking for, and afterward, you can simply brush. Many are deluded into thinking that brushing away food particles is enough, and that inner cleaning between the teeth is not necessary.
To this, we ask all of you: when cleaning your house, do you leave the corners or hard-to-reach spots uncleaned? No, right? Don’t leave out the gaps between your teeth either!
