Toothpick is actually an important oral hygiene appliance, which has a history of more than 2000 years. Because of its small size, it is usually made of wood or bamboo, and it is easy to be reduced to ashes, so its status is low, and there is really little evidence of the invention of toothpicks in history. Fortunately, archaeologists in China unearthed toothpicks made of gold, probably made in the late Han Dynasty. Although this kind of golden toothpick belongs to a few royalty, not ordinary people, it can still prove that toothpicks existed in China in the 3rd century.

People have always had the illusion that chopsticks and toothpicks are the same invention of China people. Because most people think that China people always pay attention to diet, in China, where the food culture is developed, since someone invented chopsticks as a practical product, toothpicks related to it were naturally invented at the same time. But this is not the case.

In fact, this disposable thing originated in India, and some people think it may be related to Buddha Sakyamuni's teaching his disciples about hygiene. Toothpicks and toothbrushes were both called "Yang Zhi" in the early days, which originated in India.

Legend has it that when Buddha Sakyamuni preached to his disciples, he found that all the disciples around him had bad breath, so Sakyamuni gave them another health lesson. He said: "Brush your teeth with branches, you can get rid of bad breath, increase your taste, and you can get Five Blessingg." At that time, Sakyamuni promoted Buddhism under the bodhi tree and taught his disciples how to eliminate bad breath. Until now, the working people in India still brush their teeth and pick their teeth with branches or chips in the morning, which is probably related to this legend. From this calculation, as early as 2000 years ago, Indians already knew how to use branches or sawdust as toothbrushes to clean their mouths. Later, the secret of Indians using branches to eliminate bad breath was introduced to China with visiting Buddhist monks. As a result, they used willow as a tool for brushing their teeth, so they translated it from Hindi into Chinese and wrote it as "Yang Zhi". The word "Yang Zhi" is no longer used in modern Chinese, and only Japan still uses ancient characters.

The correct way to pick your teeth with a toothpick

After a daily diet, many people have a hobby of picking their teeth after meals. In fact, orderly healthy teeth are generally not easy to block food, and frequent tooth picking will damage teeth and gums, leading to gingival atrophy, root exposure and tooth widening. The wider the teeth, the easier it is for food scraps to be embedded, forming a vicious circle. That is to say, as the saying goes, "the more you pick your teeth, the thinner you are." Then how about picking your teeth with a toothpick? We believe that tooth picking is beneficial and harmless as long as it is used correctly.

Choose high-quality wooden or ivory toothpicks when picking teeth. Pay attention to sufficient hardness and toughness, smooth surface, and gradually taper from the middle to both ends.

Tooth picking technique is: slowly place the toothpick at the bottom of the gingival sulcus (interdental space) along the tooth surface, and then gently push the food residue to the lingual side. The movement must be gentle, so as not to damage periodontal tissue. It is recommended to rinse your mouth after meals 15~20 minutes. When gargling, be sure to close your mouth, stir your cheeks with a certain force, let mouthwash flow back and forth from inside and outside your teeth, and wash away food residue and dirt. Food residue embedded in teeth can't be washed away. You can use a toothbrush brush, or use a handkerchief or towel to gently wipe the food-filled part, which not only promotes the metabolism of teeth, but also strengthens teeth.

Selection of toothpicks

People are particularly prone to get stuck in their teeth when eating or eating. At this time, toothpicks have become an indispensable tool. Toothpick can not only remove food between teeth, but also remove dental plaque and soft dirt, especially adjacent dental plaque. Proper use of toothpicks can be used as a supplement to brushing teeth every day, which is beneficial to dental health care.

Choose the right toothpick and use the right method when picking your teeth. Some people are eager to get rid of their teeth after filling them, and take whatever they want, such as knives, matchsticks, tacks, hair clips and so on. This is not only harmful to teeth and periodontal tissue, but also increases the gap between teeth, resulting in more serious tooth blockage.

The toothpick is hard, smooth and burr-free, with an oblate or triangular cross section and a slightly thinner tip.

The toothpick enters between the teeth and gums at a 45-degree angle, with the tip pointing in the occlusal direction and slowly sliding along the two tooth surfaces of each tooth gap. The force should not be too fast or too strong. Scrape one side of the toothpick on the surface of the teeth a few times, and finally rinse your mouth once a day or after meals.

Toothpick is a necessary item for some middle-aged and elderly people, but if it is not used properly, it will cause gingivitis, gingival atrophy and the gap between teeth will increase, which will lead to periodontal disease. It's best to use toothpicks when there are gaps in your teeth. If the gingival papilla is normal, toothpicks should only be used in the gingival sulcus. Never force the toothpick into the interdental nipple area, because this will cause gaps between teeth that have no gaps, and food will be more easily blocked, and then removed with toothpicks. Over time, it will become a vicious circle, which will enlarge the gap between teeth and shrink the gingival papilla, which will not only cause periodontal disease, but also affect the appearance and function.

Precautions:

Choose the right toothpick and use the right method when picking your teeth. Some people are eager to get rid of their teeth after filling them, and take whatever they want, such as knives, matchsticks, tacks, hair clips and so on. This is not only harmful to teeth and periodontal tissue, but also increases the gap between teeth, resulting in more serious tooth blockage.