Stop using toothpick after eating - Nigerian dentist warns

An expert in Dentistry in Ilorin, Kwara State, Dr Alatishe Muhammad, has warned that using toothpick to remove food remnant from teeth could harm the teeth and gums.

He said what was medically recommended was cleaning between the teeth at least once a day, using an interdental cleaner such as floss.

He said: "Using a toothpick is not an ideal way to remove something stuck between your teeth.

Toothpicks can cause abrasion and damage to your teeth at the base where they meet the gums. This can lead to gum disease and other dental problems."