asking for a friend: is it rude to use a toothpick during a meal?
toothpicks may have been cool in the sixties, but today's dentists say there are better and safer options for your teeth.
3 minute read
toothpicks are not only gross, but dentists don't like them, and etiquette experts call them "vulgar." getty
dear asking for a friend,
i find it disgusting when people use a toothpick to clean their teeth, especially during a meal. what are the etiquette rules around this, and isn’t it bad for your teeth, anyway?
signed,
hate that toothpick habit
dear hate that toothpick habit,
miss manners would hasten to scold anyone who uses a toothpick at the table to clean their teeth. “etiquette occupies the high ground, as it is generally conceded that picking the teeth is vulgar,” reports the chicago tribune.
excuse yourself and go to the washroom instead to attend to any food bits stuck between your teeth.
that said, toothpick prodding in public has not always been condemned as unsavoury behaviour. there are artifacts that suggest the opposite, like gold toothpicks and small silver boxes with lids that were used to hold toothpicks on the formal dinner table for the wealthy set as a finish to a good meal. (just check the etsy marketplace for all sorts of mid-century vintage toothpick holders for the common household, from pressed glass dishes to ceramic animal figurines.)
hollywood has its own take on toothpick culture with stars like james dean and steve mcqueen exuding cool charm while chewing on a toothpick. and luxury toothpicks have made somewhat of a comeback with companies like daneson in toronto that sells toothpicks made from american milled northern white birch that come in flavours like bourbon, single malt and mint. for some, it’s a fashion accessory with utility.
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even dr. lisa bentley, a dentist in mississauga, ontario and president of the ontario dental association, recalls the toothpick holders at the checkout tills that were popular at restaurants.
“back in the ’60s and ’70s, you’d go to restaurants and they gave out toothpicks. i remember cashing out and seeing a little jar of toothpicks,” says bentley.
a threat to good dental hygiene
personally and professionally, however, bentley is not a fan of toothpicks for picking to dislodge food bits or random chewing. in fact, she says dentists strongly advise patients against it.
the habit can actually be a threat to good dental hygiene. mcgill university researchers, for example, found that infected and inflamed gums may result in more complications, and even fatal, outcomes for people with severe cases of covid-19. their work was published in the journal of clinical periodontology in april 2021.
“over time, a toothpick habit can cause a notch in your front tooth,” says bentley. “even seamstresses who used their front teeth to hold pins over time, they would develop a notch.”
while a notched tooth isn’t pretty to look at, the real problem is the weakening of the tooth enamel. healthy, strong enamel is essential for keeping your teeth free from cavities and infection, and it also helps keep them white.
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“the risk of using the toothpick far outweighs the benefit because toothpicks are usually wooden and they’re sharp, so they can splinter and break,” she says. “they can dislodge fillings. and we’ve had instances where they’ve actually broken inside the gum.
this can also cause infection by cutting the gums and introducing bacteria into the area. “if there’s a little opening and a filling, bacteria can get in there and exacerbate the situation,” she adds.
and it’s not just the bacteria in your mouth that you need to worry about. there’s also the threat of bacteria on the toothpick itself. depending on how it is stored, a toothpick can culture harmful bacteria on the tip which can migrate and infect the gum tissue, says bentley.
“there’ve been scenarios where there’s been infection because of toothpicks splintering and the splinters get stuck in the gum,” she says. “people have even pulled off crowns and veneers with their toothpicks.”
what is better than a toothpick?
it’s a great habit to remove any food debris after a meal to prevent cavities, bentley says. she recommends a waterpik device if you’re at home, or handy dental floss, plastic-handled flossing sticks or plastic dental soft picks.
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“i use a soft plastic pick that can go in between the teeth,” she says. “that’s my favourite. it’s very gentle and doesn’t create any trauma.”
is there something about health that you (or a friend, wink, wink) have always wondered about but are too embarrassed to ask? send a note to info@healthing.ca. we promise your ‘friend’s’ secret — and identity — is safe with us!
karen hawthorne is a toronto-based writer.
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