There are better, safer options to clean your teeth. The toothpick is the oldest dental cleaning tool around. Fossils of 7,500-year-old teeth indicate that humans were using wooden sticks to clean their teeth well before the advent of toothbrushes. But today, there are better, safer options for removing pesky plaque and bacteria. Dentist and spokesperson with the American Dental Association Dr. Sally Cram explains why toothpicks may not be the best option. Following is a transcript of the video.
Sally Cram: The best analogy I give patients is, “Would you take a stick and poke it into your arm?” You wouldn’t right? So why would you poke a stick into your gum? Toothpicks are okay for pushing out big chunks of food between your teeth. But in general, they don’t take the place of floss or using some sort of interdental cleaner.
You know, they’re wood, they’re sharp. I’ve had patients who have used toothpicks and gotten splinters in their gums and infections.
Tech: Stop using toothpicks to clean your teeth — here’s what you should use instead
