Editing Toothpick (section)

== Materials and manufacture ==
There are delicate, artistic examples made of silver in [[classical antiquity|antiquity]], as well as from [[Pistacia lentiscus|mastic wood]] with the Romans.
[[File:Toothpick Variety.jpg|alt=|thumb|Plastic interdental piks designed to prevent gingivitis, and wooden flat toothpicks]]

In the 17th century, toothpicks were luxury objects and like jewelry, were artfully stylized using precious metal and set with expensive stones.

According to a local historian in the [[Southern United States]], the [[baculum]] (penis bone) of a [[raccoon]], called a "coon rod",{{efn|Other nicknames are "Alabama toothpick", "Arkansas toothpick", "mountain man toothpick" and "Texas toothpick"}} was sometimes filed to a point for use as a toothpick.<ref>Charlotte Collins Bond. [https://www.thegagenweb.com/gamadison/history/coonrod.htm "Coonrod: Arkansas Tooth-pick."] Madison County GAGenWeb archives. 1998. ([http://elizabethprata.blogspot.com/2007/06/on-madison-countys-coonrod-competition.html Reprinted]) Retrieved 5 July 2023.</ref>

The first toothpick-manufacturing machine was developed in 1869, by Marc Signorello. Another was patented in 1872, by Silas Noble and J. P. Cooley.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://inventors.about.com/od/dstartinventions/a/dentistry_2.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713172145/http://inventors.about.com/od/dstartinventions/a/dentistry_2.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 13, 2012|title=History of the Toothbrush and Toothpaste|author=Mary Bellis|work=About.com Money}}</ref>

Wooden toothpicks are cut from [[birch]] wood. Logs are first spiral cut into thin sheets, which are then cut, chopped, milled and bleached (to lighten) into the individual toothpicks.<ref>''[[How It's Made]]: "Toothpicks; acrylic bathtubs; helicopters; beer."  [[The Discovery Channel]].</ref> Nowadays other means of [[interdental cleaning]] are preferred such as [[dental floss]], [[toothbrush]]es, and [[Oral irrigator|oral irrigators.]]