What is Toothpick?
[[File:Holzzahnstocher.jpg|thumb|right|Wood toothpicks]] A '''toothpick''' is a small thin stick of [[wood]], [[plastic]], [[bamboo]], [[metal]], [[bone]] or other [[material]]. It has at least one and sometimes two pointed ends. The first mention and patent for it was in February 1872.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Toothpick - Technology & Culture|url=http://userwww.sfsu.edu/art511_c/tele07/spmasterf/finalSite/technology.html|access-date=2020-08-21|website=userwww.sfsu.edu|archive-date=2020-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924010946/http://userwww.sfsu.edu/art511_c/tele07/spmasterf/finalSite/technology.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> A person can push a toothpick between their [[teeth]] to remove very small pieces of food, after a meal. Toothpicks are also used for [[wikt:celebration|celebrations]] to hold or stick small [[appetizers]] (like [[cheese]] cubes or [[olives]]). Toothpicks sometimes have [[plastic frills]] or look like small paper [[Umbrella|umbrellas]] or [[Flag|flags]]. == History == The toothpick is the oldest [[tool]] for cleaning [[teeth]]. The [[Skull|skulls]] of [[Neanderthal|Neanderthals]] and [[Homo sapiens]], show clear signs of teeth picked with a tool. Toothpicks that are made of [[bronze]] have been found in prehistoric graves in Northern [[Italy]] and in the East Alps. == Materials used to make toothpicks == There are artistic toothpicks made of [[silver]] in [[antiquity]], as well as from [[mastic wood]]. In the 17th century, toothpicks were luxury objects. They were made using precious metal and set with expensive stones. The first toothpick-manufacturing machine was developed by Marc Signorello in 1869. Another was patented in 1872, by Silas Noble and J. P. Cooley.<ref>{{Cite web|last=inventions|first=Mary Bellis Inventions Expert Mary Bellis covered|last2=films|first2=inventors for ThoughtCo for 18 years She is known for her independent|last3=documentaries|last4=Alex|first4=including one about|last5=Bellis|first5=er Graham Bell our editorial process Mary|title=A Com