It’s only natural that people use toothpicks to clean their smiles. Such tools seem quite handy at first glance, and they promise to remove the “leftovers” from your mouth. Even so, you should avoid them going forward; toothpicks are bad for your teeth and gums and sometimes cause emergencies. Other oral tools would clean your grin more safely, especially after a meal. To learn more, let your Fair Oaks dentist explain in this helpful summary.
How Toothpicks Harm Teeth & Gums
Toothpicks have a long history, but don’t be fooled; they do more harm than good. Using them can damage your smile in various ways, such as:
Pushing & Wedging Food
Whatever you may have thought, toothpicks aren’t very effective. They rarely remove food as intended and instead push debris further into your gums. As a result, their use can further expose your teeth to harmful oral bacteria, carbohydrates, etc. You’d then face a higher risk of tooth decay over time.
Wear & Tear of Enamel
Another issue with toothpicks is the material they use. These tools are often made of wood or plastic, so they’re abrasive once applied to your teeth. Using them would almost certainly cause wear and tear to your enamel, potentially leading to cavities, tooth sensitivity, and so on.
Trapping & Breaking
While they may look sturdy, most toothpicks are pretty flimsy and fragile. They can easily break apart in your gum tissue and cause pain in (and around) your teeth. Worse yet, toothpicks are hard to remove once such breakage occurs; dentists must often get involved to do so.
Great Toothpick Alternatives
If you must clean your teeth after eating, you should use good alternatives to toothpicks. The most notable of these include the following:
- Traditional Floss: Without question, traditional dental floss is a safe and time-tested oral tool. It can effectively remove debris from between your teeth, all without causing side effects.
- Water Flossers: People who prefer high-tech methods should consider water flossers. With well-known brands like the Waterpik™, you could dislodge food particles via high-pressure water streams.
- Oral Rinses: When all else fails, you can always swish water (or mouthwash) to remove the food stuck in your smile. It’ll do a good job without harming your oral health.
Since toothpicks are bad for teeth, try to avoid them from now on. You always have the option of using alternative tools like those above!
About the Practice
RnR Dentistry is based in Fair Oaks, CA. Led by Dr. Ramona Rivera, our practice takes a family-first approach to modern dental care. We always aim to make our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative procedures suitable for your sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, etc. In doing so, our team hopes to give every patient a warm, vibrant, and beautiful smile! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (916)-967-2217.