{"id":159,"date":"2023-08-02T21:31:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-02T21:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ralphavenuedental.com\/blog\/?p=159"},"modified":"2023-08-29T21:33:05","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T21:33:05","slug":"are-toothpicks-safe-to-use-on-my-teeth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ralphavenuedental.com\/blog\/2023\/08\/02\/are-toothpicks-safe-to-use-on-my-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Toothpicks Safe to Use on My Teeth?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ralphavenuedental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-300x199.png\" alt=\"a person using a toothpick on their teeth \" class=\"wp-image-160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ralphavenuedental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/www.ralphavenuedental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image.png 625w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve gone out to eat recently, you may have noticed a bowl of complementary toothpicks by the restaurant\u2019s front door as you were leaving. These are there for a reason; to help you clear out those annoying bits of food debris that remain lingering after your dinner. However, did you know that toothpicks actually aren\u2019t the best tool for this task, and can even potentially harm your pearly whites if you\u2019re careless? Here\u2019s what your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ralphavenuedental.com\/emergency-dentistry.html\">emergency dentist<\/a> wants you to know about toothpicks along with some safer alternatives that are just as effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can Toothpicks Harm My Smile?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The American Academy of General Dentistry, one of the most respectable and trustworthy professional dental organizations around, says that it\u2019s still okay to use a toothpick if you don\u2019t have anything else at your disposal\u2014just be careful, and try not to use them too frequently. There are a few reasons these experts think you should exercise caution, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>They\u2019re capable of breaking easily, which creates small wooden fragments and splinters that can cause damage and irritation.<\/li><li>The end of a toothpick is the perfect vehicle for transporting outside bacteria into your mouth.<\/li><li>Toothpicks can damage both natural tooth enamel as well as dental restorations like filling, crowns or dentures.<\/li><li>Toothpicks can also create additional space between your teeth that provides more room for bacteria to collect, heightening your risk of infection.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Should I Use Instead of a Toothpick?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you can, try using one of these dentist-approved items for removing food or debris from your teeth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dental Floss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Dentists agree that dental floss is the best and safest way to remove debris and food particles stuck between your teeth. There are waxed and non-waxed varieties, as well as floss picks, which are plastic picks with precut strands of floss attached to them that are typically easier to manipulate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Oral Irrigator<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Also called Waterpiks, these use a gentle, pressurized stream of water to clear debris from between teeth. They\u2019re incredibly effective, but pricier than other options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Even simply drinking a glass of water (preferably tap water, since it often contains fluoride) can prove useful for clearing debris stuck between teeth. You might also try using lukewarm saltwater to rinse your mouth if you\u2019re dealing with inflammation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Our talented team here at Ralph Avenue Dental Care is excited to offer patients and families in the Brooklyn, NY community an unmatched level of care. If you have any questions about the blog or you\u2019d like to schedule a visit for you or a loved one, feel free to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ralphavenuedental.com\/contact.html\">contact us today<\/a> or give us a call for further assistance. <strong>Telephone: (732) 335-7155.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve gone out to eat recently, you may have noticed a bowl of complementary toothpicks by the restaurant\u2019s front door as you were leaving. These are there for a reason; to help you clear out those annoying bits of food debris that remain lingering after your dinner. However, did you know that toothpicks actually [&hellip;]<\/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":[],"class_list":["post-159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Are Toothpicks Safe To Use On Teeth? | Ralph Avenue Dental Care<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Toothpicks might seem useful for clearing leftover food and debris from your teeth, but are they the best and safest option for this task?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ralphavenuedental.com\/blog\/2023\/08\/02\/are-toothpicks-safe-to-use-on-my-teeth\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Are Toothpicks Safe To Use On Teeth? 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