It’s a small habit that often goes unnoticed—someone casually chewing on a toothpick, lost in thought, like a character from an old-school movie. But have you ever stopped to wonder why people do it? I’ve always thought people do it to look tough or cool.
Whatever the reason, this tiny stick has a surprisingly big role in human behaviour—one that goes way beyond just good dental hygiene.
The Bite My Wood publication claims that chewing on toothpicks can improve dental hygiene, provide oral fixation, and offer stress relief. The publication also mentions that this can be a socially accepted behaviour, seen as a sign of relaxation or contentment after a meal.
“Some people use toothpicks as a substitute for cigarettes when trying to quit smoking. Chewing on a toothpick can help satisfy the oral fixation associated with smoking,” says the above source.
According to The Daily View, in the 1950s and 1960s, toothpicks were common in films to make characters look cool or sophisticated. They were used to replace cigarettes as a natural choice, and the correlation between toothpick chewing and heroism still exists today, adds the publication.
The above source further state that “As it became well-known that cigarettes weren’t good for you, a lot of people turned to chewing or sucking on toothpicks to help their cravings. Whenever you saw someone with a toothpick in their mouth, there was a chance that they were a recovering addict.”
The Daily View also claims that today, people may choose to make themselves look rough, wicked, or naughty due to the correlation between toothpick chewing and a bad-boy attitude.
Also see: Ran out of toothpaste? Here are simple hacks for your oral hygiene
