I've been using toothpicks after meals for years because I get food stuck between my teeth and toothbrushes don't get it out well. My dentist told me to use dental floss instead, but honestly it's way more uncomfortable for me. Does a toothpick really damage your gums or is that just a myth?
What if the real problem isn't the toothpick itself but how you use it? Look, using them once in a while won't destroy your gums, but doing it daily with strong or aggressive movements can irritate and damage them over time because they're pretty delicate. Floss is uncomfortable at first, sure, but it's much safer because it doesn't scrape as much. If you really can't get used to floss, at least try to be very gentle with the toothpicks (vertical movements, never horizontal) and consider a water flosser or rubber toothpicks - they're less aggressive than wooden ones.
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