Toothpick

A small pointed stick, usually made of wood or plastic, used to dislodge food from between teeth or spear small pieces of food.

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Interdental cleaning: Cleaning the spaces between teeth with devices such as floss, brushes, or picks. Toothpicks are one simple tool for removing food trapped between teeth.
Wood: A porous structural material formed by the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. Wood is the traditional material for disposable toothpicks.
Ancient dentistry: Dental care and treatment practiced in ancient societies. Toothpicks belong to a long history of attempts to clean and care for teeth.
Gingival recession: The loss of gum tissue that exposes more of a tooth’s root surface. Aggressive or repeated picking can irritate or injure gum tissue.
Dental floss: A thin filament used to clean between teeth and beneath the gumline. Floss reaches narrow spaces and cleans tooth surfaces more thoroughly than an ordinary toothpick.
Bamboo: A fast-growing woody grass whose strong stems are used in construction and household products. Bamboo provides a renewable source for slender, pointed picks.
Neanderthals: An extinct human species that lived across Europe and parts of Asia. Wear patterns on some Neanderthal teeth have been interpreted as evidence of toothpick use.
Dental plaque: A sticky biofilm of microorganisms that forms on teeth and can contribute to decay and gum disease. Removing visible food does not replace cleaning plaque from tooth surfaces.
Cocktail stick: A short pointed stick used to spear or garnish small foods and drinks. It shares the toothpick’s shape but is commonly used for serving food.
Plastic: A broad class of moldable synthetic or semi-synthetic polymer materials. Plastic toothpicks can be washable and flexible, unlike most disposable wooden versions.