Thread: Where can you buy flat toothpicks?

On Mar 31, 7:03*pm, James <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I've never bought toothpicks before. *Been to 3 grocery stores and
> they only carry round toothpicks.

eBay

--Bryan

James wrote on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:03:54 -0700 (PDT):

> I've never bought toothpicks before. Been to 3 grocery stores
> and they only carry round toothpicks.

Don't know why you want them but try the dental section in a drug store.
--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

"James" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've never bought toothpicks before. Been to 3 grocery stores and
> they only carry round toothpicks.

Depends more where you live than the market... if you live where there's a
fairly strong concentration of particular ethnicities any markets will have
flat toothpics

Hispanic markets typically have flat toothpics. A toothpic in the mouth is
a major Hispanic macho image tradition, after eating they pick their teeth
at the table too (not the ladies), and they only use flats... on special
dress up occasions they hold wooden matches in their mouths. I know yoose
midwestern bible thumpers think this is BS but anyone from the coasts who
has been to the barrios knows it's the absolute truth. Real Chinese
restaurants also have flat toothpics, but not so much anymore because modern
sanitation dictates individually wrapped and those are always round. So try
Oriental markets too.

"James" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've never bought toothpicks before. Been to 3 grocery stores and
> they only carry round toothpicks.

Stop & Shop has them.

In article
<[email protected]>,
James <[email protected]> wrote:

> I've never bought toothpicks before. Been to 3 grocery stores and
> they only carry round toothpicks.

I buy the plastic dental picks. They are SO much better! Wood
toothpicks tend to splinter. I hate them.
--
Peace! Om

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.
It's about learning to dance in the rain.
-- Anon.

James wrote:
> I've never bought toothpicks before. Been to 3 grocery stores and
> they only carry round toothpicks.


Check the local dollar stores.

gloria p

On Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:03:54 -0700 (PDT), James
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I've never bought toothpicks before. Been to 3 grocery stores and
>they only carry round toothpicks.

Flat toothpicks are flimsy and IMO, they're good for nothing. What do
you want to use them for?


--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

"sf" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..
> On Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:03:54 -0700 (PDT), James
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>I've never bought toothpicks before. Been to 3 grocery stores and
>>they only carry round toothpicks.
>
> Flat toothpicks are flimsy and IMO, they're good for nothing. What do
> you want to use them for?
>
>
Then you're an all thumbs klutz, you've no sensual dexterity.

The flat toothpics are much thinner than the round ones and are far better
for picking teeth, which is why toothpics are called toothpics. The round
picks are better for stabbing food like olives, and for garnishing...
they're pretty useless for picking teeth, unless you're a redneck southern
hillybilly with more space then teeth

On Mar 31, 7:03*pm, James <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I've never bought toothpicks before. *Been to 3 grocery stores and
> they only carry round toothpicks.

Keep looking - look also in the big box or discount stores - I can
find them everywhere. Make sure your regular stores know that at
least one customer wants them.

N.

On Apr 1, 12:34*am, "brooklyn1" <gravesen...@verizon.net> wrote:
> "sf" <s...@geemail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:[email protected].. > On Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:03:54 -0700 (PDT), James
> > <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>I've never bought toothpicks before. *Been to 3 grocery stores and
> >>they only carry round toothpicks.
>
> > Flat toothpicks are flimsy and IMO, they're good for nothing. *What do
> > you want to use them for?
>
> Then you're an all thumbs klutz, you've no sensual dexterity.
>
> The flat toothpics are much thinner than the round ones and are far better
> for picking teeth, which is why toothpics are called toothpics. *The round
> picks are better for stabbing food like olives, and for garnishing...
> they're pretty useless for picking teeth, unless you're a redneck southern
> hillybilly with more space then teeth

For once, you're right. Well, maybe more than once. Flat ones are
better because they can get farther between the teeth - more like
floss. And it's not always convenient to floss. Plus, I'd rather see
someone with a toothpick in their mouth than actively flossing.

N.

Nancy2 wrote:
> On Mar 31, 7:03 pm, James <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I've never bought toothpicks before. Been to 3 grocery stores and
>> they only carry round toothpicks.
>>
>
> Keep looking - look also in the big box or discount stores - I can
> find them everywhere. Make sure your regular stores know that at
> least one customer wants them.
>
> N.

GUM Soft-Pics are what I use. I have been addicted to these for several
years. I have not had a cavity in over 20 yrs, either.


http://www.dentist.net/butler-gum-soft-picks.asp


Becca

In article <[email protected]>,
Becca <[email protected]> wrote:

> Nancy2 wrote:
> > On Mar 31, 7:03 pm, James <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> I've never bought toothpicks before. Been to 3 grocery stores and
> >> they only carry round toothpicks.
> >>
> >
> > Keep looking - look also in the big box or discount stores - I can
> > find them everywhere. Make sure your regular stores know that at
> > least one customer wants them.
> >
> > N.
>
> GUM Soft-Pics are what I use. I have been addicted to these for several
> years. I have not had a cavity in over 20 yrs, either.
>
>
> http://www.dentist.net/butler-gum-soft-picks.asp
>
>
> Becca

Those look interesting, and efficient!
--
Peace! Om

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.
It's about learning to dance in the rain.
-- Anon.

On Mar 31, 7:03 pm, James <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I've never bought toothpicks before. Been to 3 grocery stores and
> they only carry round toothpicks.

There's a little machine you can buy that will turn a round toothpick
into a flat one. Basically, it looks like a long miniature taco
press. You put a round toothpick in it, hammer it shut, and voila, a
flat toothpick emerges. They're also useful for making rolled stuffed
chives.

I don't have a link to give you, but you can probably find a
description and source for it via a Google search.

Good luck. HTH, etc.

--
Silvar Beitel
(very occasional poster)

On Wed, 1 Apr 2009 08:46:51 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On Apr 1, 12:34*am, "brooklyn1" <gravesen...@verizon.net> wrote:
>> "sf" <s...@geemail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:[email protected].. > On Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:03:54 -0700 (PDT), James
>> > <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> >>I've never bought toothpicks before. *Been to 3 grocery stores and
>> >>they only carry round toothpicks.
>>
>> > Flat toothpicks are flimsy and IMO, they're good for nothing. *What do
>> > you want to use them for?
>>
>> Then you're an all thumbs klutz, you've no sensual dexterity.
>>
>> The flat toothpics are much thinner than the round ones and are far better
>> for picking teeth, which is why toothpics are called toothpics. *The round
>> picks are better for stabbing food like olives, and for garnishing...
>> they're pretty useless for picking teeth, unless you're a redneck southern
>> hillybilly with more space then teeth
>
>For once, you're right. Well, maybe more than once. Flat ones are
>better because they can get farther between the teeth - more like
>floss. And it's not always convenient to floss. Plus, I'd rather see
>someone with a toothpick in their mouth than actively flossing.
>

I was wondering what *food* the OP wanted to stab with them... or
maybe there was something else he wanted to stab.



--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

"sf" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]..
> On Wed, 1 Apr 2009 08:46:51 -0700 (PDT), Nancy2
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>On Apr 1, 12:34 am, "brooklyn1" <gravesen...@verizon.net> wrote:
>>> "sf" <s...@geemail.com> wrote in message
>>>
>>> news:[email protected].. > On Tue, 31 Mar 2009
>>> 17:03:54 -0700 (PDT), James
>>> > <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> >>I've never bought toothpicks before. Been to 3 grocery stores and
>>> >>they only carry round toothpicks.
>>>
>>> > Flat toothpicks are flimsy and IMO, they're good for nothing. What do
>>> > you want to use them for?
>>>
>>> Then you're an all thumbs klutz, you've no sensual dexterity.
>>>
>>> The flat toothpics are much thinner than the round ones and are far
>>> better
>>> for picking teeth, which is why toothpics are called toothpics. The
>>> round
>>> picks are better for stabbing food like olives, and for garnishing...
>>> they're pretty useless for picking teeth, unless you're a redneck
>>> southern
>>> hillybilly with more space then teeth
>>
>>For once, you're right. Well, maybe more than once. Flat ones are
>>better because they can get farther between the teeth - more like
>>floss. And it's not always convenient to floss. Plus, I'd rather see
>>someone with a toothpick in their mouth than actively flossing.
>>
>
> I was wondering what *food* the OP wanted to stab with them... or
> maybe there was something else he wanted to stab.
>
Flat toothpics are rarely used for stabbing anything. Flat toothpics have
many uses for which round toothpics don't readily lend themselves, they're
used for all sorts of art/hobby projects like model building, they make
great paint/glue applicators too, they're used like miniature spatulas;
apply a small dab of epoxy and use the edge of the toothpic to scrape away
any excess. And flat toothpics don't roll off the table. Flat toothpics
cost far less than round ones, I very often use a flat toothpic as a
precision oiler, to place one small dab of lubricant, and since they're so
inexpensive just toss in the trash. Everytime I run my Swingline can opener
through the dishwasher I use a flat toothpic to dab olive oil onto the
rotating bearing surfaces... pouring oil just makes a mess.

"Nancy2" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
On Apr 1, 12:34 am, "brooklyn1" <gravesen...@verizon.net> wrote:
> "sf" <s...@geemail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:[email protected].. > On Tue, 31 Mar 2009
> 17:03:54 -0700 (PDT), James
> > <j0069b...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>I've never bought toothpicks before. Been to 3 grocery stores and
> >>they only carry round toothpicks.
>
> > Flat toothpicks are flimsy and IMO, they're good for nothing. What do
> > you want to use them for?
>
> Then you're an all thumbs klutz, you've no sensual dexterity.
>
> The flat toothpics are much thinner than the round ones and are far better
> for picking teeth, which is why toothpics are called toothpics. The round
> picks are better for stabbing food like olives, and for garnishing...
> they're pretty useless for picking teeth, unless you're a redneck southern
> hillybilly with more space then teeth

For once, you're right. Well, maybe more than once. Flat ones are
better because they can get farther between the teeth - more like
floss. And it's not always convenient to floss. Plus, I'd rather see
someone with a toothpick in their mouth than actively flossing.

N.



I'm reminded of the time a friend and I went to a barbeque. We had some
really good grilled ribs corn on the cob, etc. After we ate we were all
sitting on the porch having a few beers, just talking. She was searching
through her purse, I mean really digging. Turns out she forgot to bring her
dental floss. I have no doubt if someone had some she'd have flossed right
then and there. <G>

Jill

On 2009-04-02, jmcquown <[email protected]> wrote:

> For once, you're right. Well, maybe more than once. Flat ones are
> better because they can get farther between the teeth - more like
> floss. And it's not always convenient to floss. Plus, I'd rather see
> someone with a toothpick in their mouth than actively flossing.


I'm a confirmed toothpick junkie. Though I am seldom seen in public with
one in my mouth (crass), I'm seldom without one at home. Stuff between my
teeth drives me crazy and I hate floss. I DO keep some on hand for those
REALLY desperate situations.

After preferring flat toothpicks for the last 30 yrs, I've recently
defaulted to round, due mainly to my rural location and the fact flat
toothpicks are as rare as Champagne in Dogpatch. Guess what!? Round t/p's
work jes fine. It's all in the trim!

The real trick to any toothpick is gumming it long enough to soften it up so
one can "split" the tip. IOW, a good toothpick is made with the grain
running lengthwise. You get it soft and split it jes like splitting
rails/logs/etc. Get it soft, grab tip between teeth and find grain of wood.
Pull softly till tip splits away from main pick. If the toothpick is a
"good 'un", a thin split tip smaller than the original tip will result.
Round one's do this just as well as a flat, although a good flat can be
split so fine you're in floss territory. But, too fine and it has the same
rigidity as floss and is therefore useless as a toothpick.

Another great variation is bamboo toothpicks, commonly found in Thai
restaurants and easily identified by the double lathe cut indentations near
the flat top end. These aren't as good for picking teeth as US wood, but
they are strong as Hell and make good drift pins for reassembling your old
WWII Nambu momento pistol.

nb

jmcquown wrote:

> For once, you're right. Well, maybe more than once. Flat ones are
> better because they can get farther between the teeth - more like
> floss. And it's not always convenient to floss. Plus, I'd rather see
> someone with a toothpick in their mouth than actively flossing.
>
> N.


For whom ever it was looking for these- Just saw flat and round ones for
sale today at the Army commissary. Diamond brand, 250 picks at fifty
cents a box

notbob wrote:

> After preferring flat toothpicks for the last 30 yrs, I've recently
> defaulted to round, due mainly to my rural location and the fact flat
> toothpicks are as rare as Champagne in Dogpatch. Guess what!? Round t/p's
> work jes fine. It's all in the trim!
>

ya want I should send ya some, notbob? I found flat ones today at the
commissary. I don't think a little box will break the bank.. drop me an
email if you're interested.
Goomba