Is chewing toothpicks bad?

Question

Hello doctor,

Are birchwood toothpicks hard enough to cause damage to tooth enamel? Do they cause damage to the teeth in any way? I have pored over the internet for the answer to this question, with many dentists recommending that toothpicks should not be used or chewed on, or saying that it can cause damage to gums if used improperly. But they do not say exactly and scientifically why, if it only applies to certain woods, etc. Assume the toothpicks are being used properly and will not be causing harm to the gums. I find great pleasure in gently sucking on and chewing a couple of toothpicks per day, usually once they are softened with saliva, and I want to know if this is a horrendous dental habit or a fairly harmless one.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

We use toothpicks in the anatomical spaces present between the teeth. The spaces are called embrasures. While you use the toothpick, you lacerate the gingival tissue that covers those spaces (the cone-shaped gingiva present between the teeth) resulting in the creation of tunnels in between your teeth hence increasing the risk of food impaction. Food impaction means the food gets trapped between the teeth. Various bacteria act on this food and result in the creation of various cariogenic agents (substances that cause tooth decay) like acids, which dissolve enamel and that means your tooth would get proximal caries that will progress with time as this type of caries goes unnoticed. So, do not chew on toothpicks as it is a hard surface. Chewing on hard substances weakens your enamel. I suggest you choose better options like dental floss instead. You can do a gingival massage using gum paint to reverse the damage already caused to your gums.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.