The first recorded use of a toothpick dates back to prehistoric humans
Long before modern dentistry, prehistoric ancestors used makeshift tools to maintain oral hygiene, leaving behind permanent grooves on fossilized teeth that reveal a surprisingly ancient habit of dental care.
Archaeologists have discovered distinct, microscopic grooves on the fossilized teeth of Neanderthals and Homo habilis dating back nearly two million years. These marks suggest that early humans regularly used stiff grass or small twigs as primitive toothpicks to dislodge food and alleviate gum pain.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 4-question quiz