{"id":218,"date":"2023-03-12T05:41:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-12T05:41:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.moultondentistry.com\/blog\/?p=218"},"modified":"2024-09-12T13:12:59","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T13:12:59","slug":"what-makes-toothpicks-so-dangerous","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.moultondentistry.com\/blog\/2023\/03\/12\/what-makes-toothpicks-so-dangerous\/","title":{"rendered":"What Makes Toothpicks So Dangerous, and What to Use Instead"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"someone<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

When you\u2019ve finished a good meal, there\u2019s nothing that feels worse than having a piece of your dinner lodged in your teeth. Many restaurants have a small box of toothpicks by the exit, and if you\u2019re in this position you may be tempted to grab one to clean your teeth, but the truth is that that\u2019s not the best idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the contrary, there\u2019s a real risk that a toothpick could do more harm than good for your teeth, even potentially leading to a dental emergency<\/a>. If you\u2019re wondering why, and what to use instead, here\u2019s a guide that may help you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why are Toothpicks So Dangerous?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you really think about it, it shouldn\u2019t be all that surprising that toothpicks can be seriously dangerous. It also shouldn\u2019t take all that much imagination to figure out how using one can go wrong, but it\u2019s still worth talking about what can happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For one, cheap toothpicks are known to break and splinter under pressure, sometimes becoming lodged in the teeth or gums. In the worst cases, it may be impossible for you to dislodge without professional assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, that\u2019s getting off easy. It\u2019s also not uncommon for a toothpick to deal lacerations to your cheek, tongue, or gums. If you slip, you could even puncture the roof of your mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to Use Instead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With all this in mind, you may want to find another, safer way to clean your teeth. Thankfully, there is no shortage of ways to do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dental floss is an obvious one, and one that you may already be familiar with. It\u2019s small enough to carry with you, safe to use, and can give you a much deeper clean than a toothpick can. If a spool of floss doesn\u2019t really sound appealing, you may want to try flossers that can be a little more portable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you really miss the feeling of a toothpick, you could also start carrying interdental brushes. These are small plastic brushes designed to fit between your teeth, but they\u2019re much more durable than your average toothpick will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next time you\u2019re looking to get nice and clean after dinner, consider using one of these options\u2014your dentist will thank you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Marc Moulton is a dentist with over 30 years of experience in his field, and in that time, he feels enormously privileged to have been able to form meaningful relationships with countless patients based on trust and understanding. Dr. Moulton received his doctorate from the University of Alabama Dental School, and since then he has continued his education at the Spear Institute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have any questions about how best to clean your teeth, he can be reached at his website<\/a> or by phone at (205) 988-3360.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you\u2019ve finished a good meal, there\u2019s nothing that feels worse than having a piece of your dinner lodged in your teeth. Many restaurants have a small box of toothpicks by the exit, and if you\u2019re in this position you may be tempted to grab one to clean your teeth, but the truth is that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Makes Toothpicks So Dangerous? | Moulton Dentistry<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you\u2019re looking to clean your teeth, there are much better ways to do that than toothpicks. 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