Editing Toothpick (section)

== History ==
Known in all cultures, the toothpick is the oldest instrument for dental cleaning. [[Dmanisi hominins|Hominin remains]] from [[Dmanisi historic site|Dmanisi]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], dated to about 1.8 million years ago, bear lesions indicating the repeated use of a “toothpick”.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Margvelashvili |first1=A. |last2=Zollikofer |first2=C. P. E. |last3=Lordkipanidze |first3=D. |last4=Peltomaki |first4=T. |last5=Ponce de Leon |first5=M. S. |title=Tooth wear and dentoalveolar remodeling are key factors of morphological variation in the Dmanisi mandibles |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |date=22 October 2013 |volume=110 |issue=43 |pages=17278–17283 |doi=10.1073/pnas.1316052110|pmid=24101504 |pmc=3808665 |bibcode=2013PNAS..11017278M |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hogenboom |first1=Melissa |title='Ancient humans' used toothpicks |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-24396757 |access-date=29 August 2021 |work=BBC News |date=8 October 2013}}</ref> A Neanderthal man's jawbone found in the [[Cova Foradà]] in Spain evidenced use of a toothpick to alleviate pain in his teeth caused by [[periodontal disease]] and dental wear.<Ref>{{cite journal |ref={{harvid|Lozano et al.|2013}}|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0076852 |pmid=24146934 |pmc=3797767 |title=Toothpicking and Periodontal Disease in a Neanderthal Specimen from Cova Foradà Site (Valencia, Spain) |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=8 |issue=10 |pages=e76852 |year=2013 |last1=Lozano |first1=Marina |last2=Subirà |first2=Maria Eulàlia |last3=Aparicio |first3=José |last4=Lorenzo |first4=Carlos |last5=Gómez-Merino |first5=Gala |bibcode=2013PLoSO...876852L |doi-access=free }}</ref> Toothpicks made of bronze have been found as burial objects in prehistoric graves in Northern Italy and in the East Alps. In 1986, researchers in [[Florida]] discovered the 7500-year-old remains of ancient Native Americans and discovered small grooves between many of the molar teeth.<ref name=AP>(AP) (06/22/1986). "Dentistry as practiced 5510 B.C.". ''Toronto Star''.</ref> One of the researchers, Justin Martin of Concordia University Wisconsin, said, "The enamel on teeth is quite tough, so they must have used the probes quite rigorously to make the grooves."<ref name=AP/>