Toothpick

A toothpick is a simple tool that serves to rid the teeth of food particles. The now common toothpick is thin, about 5 cm long and is usually made ​​of wood. One end or two ends are sharpened to easily get them into the interdental spaces.

Throughout history, toothpick, however, were made ​​from grass blades from the whiskers of walrus, ivory, various metals, and the feathers of chickens and ducks birds. Wood was the most common material. Until the invention of an industrial production process in the second half of the 19th century toothpicks were mostly carved from wood chips. The out of the wood of orange trees carved Portuguese Palitos de Coimbra were made until well into the 1970s with the hand. The 15 to 25 centimeters long toothpicks were popular especially in Brazil and Argentina.

Using the public

The extent to which a toothpick may be used by the public for cleaning, was subject throughout history multiple transformations. For a long time it was generally frowned upon to use it open and there are a variety of travel reports, in which the open handling this Behelfsmittel in a different culture is highlighted as a special and criticized. In Central Europe it was common for several decades to use the toothpick at the table behind his hollow hand. Today, the use of toothpicks at the table is discouraged others with regard to the aesthetic sense.

History

Prehistoric time

The toothpick is one of those tools that have been used early relative of anatomically modern humans (Homo sapiens); as the earliest evidence apply marks on the teeth of Homo habilis, which have been dated at 1.84 million years. The toothpick is probably the oldest instrument for cleaning teeth and was - like the wheel - developed independently by a number of cultures. Already in 1911, a French anthropologist at Neanderthal teeth found scores, which he attributed to an excessive use of primitive toothpicks. Similar notches are noted in the following years including as to the remains of Australian Aborigines, the indigenous peoples of North America and Egyptians of the Old Kingdom. In science, however, was generally doubted that the use of wood or bone could lead to such eye-catching grooves in tooth enamel. For it was considered likely that the processing of animal tendons can lead to such traces. Only at the beginning of the 21st century, the anthropologist and paleontologist Leslea Hlusko could demonstrate that such notches are formed when grass blades are used for cleaning teeth. In experiments, they found that due to the high silica content in grass stalks human teeth have such tracks when they were purified by three to eight hours, with blades of grass.

The oldest cosmetic kit found, which is believed that it also contains a toothpick is a small set of instruments, which dates from the period of about 3500 BC. It was found during the excavations in an ancient royal tomb in the Mesopotamian city of Ur, located in what is now Iraq. The gold -made tools were attached to a ring and silver were placed in a conical gold vessel. Similar, but more recent discoveries are from Europe and the Far East and prove that toothpick was already in use in prehistoric China and Japan. Not all were made ​​of gold. Was used, silver, copper and bronze.

Antiquity

In Ancient Greece the use of small wood chips was so common that the Greeks were sometimes referred to as toothpicks chewers. Greeks and Romans also knew toothpick from durable materials such as metal and bone. Similar to the excavated at Ur toilet set of instruments designed for personal care were attached to a ring again. Am Ring mounted next to the toothpick and an ear cleaner and a tongue scraper were attached. Some toilet sets also showed also a fingernail cleaner or had several differently shaped toothpick in order to achieve different mouthparts can.

Both Pliny the Elder, Pliny the Younger and Martial mention toothpick. Pliny the Elder recommends cleaning an aching tooth with the longest tooth of a dog. But is better known the place in the epigrams of Martial, who scoffs at idle pretty boys:

Middle Ages

The Christogram ( the first letters χ and ρ for "Christ ") on a toothpick the late Roman silver treasure Kaiseraugster has the wealth and the Christian faith of the owner.

The medieval Saxon Mirror led the toothpick explicitly as part of the Erbgegenstände the woman.

Erasmus of Rotterdam (1469-1536) pointed out in his etiquette book out to use toothpicks, belong to the " fine manners of the boys ".

In the 17th century there were toothpicks as luxury items or as decorative pieces. They were formed from precious metal and set with precious stones, chased often ornate and enamelled. There are portraits, where noblemen wear a toothpick on a chain around his neck, made ​​by silversmiths in precious metals or ivory. Also precious Toothpick Holder came on.

Modern Times

In the 18th century the use of toothpicks was offered in the first edition of etiquette.

Postmodernism

Nowadays the part of modern dentistry, the use of toothpicks is likely to be rejected, auxiliaries such as dental floss and interdental brushes is given preference.