Buddhist monks used toothpicks as far back as the 700s and researchers have even found toothpick grooves in the teeth of prehistoric humans.
Shakespeare mentions a toothpick in Much Ado About Nothing.
In 1872, Silas Noble and J.P. Cooley patented the first toothpick-manufacturing machine.
One cord of white birth wood, also known as the toothpick tree, can make 7.5 million toothpicks.
*****
Overusing toothpicks can damage tooth enamel and gums. It can also cause wear to tooth roots, particularly in elderly people whose gums have pulled away, exposing the roots.’
Use a toothpick to mark the start of a roll of tape, instead of wasting time trying to find the beginning of the tape.
You can also use a toothpick to repair small holes in wood, especially those made by driving a nail into the wrong spot. Dip the tip of a toothpick into wood glue, stick it into the hole and break it off. Sand the toothpick flush to the surface and you will never notice the repair.
To get rid of dirt in hard-to-reach cracks of crevices, dip an ordinary toothpick in some alcohol and run it through the affected area. Try it to clean around the buttons of your phone.