Whether you need to dislodge a pesky piece of food stuck between your teeth or want to skewer some appetizers for a party tray, toothpicks are an essential household item to keep on hand. While they may be small, toothpicks can sometimes be tricky to locate among the vast shelves of your local Walmart or grocery store. To help you stock up on this handy tool without the hassle, we‘ve put together the ultimate guide on where to find toothpicks during your next shopping trip.
Check the Paper Goods Aisle First
In most Walmart stores, you‘ll have the best luck scoring toothpicks in the paper goods aisle. Look for them near other disposable dining items like paper plates, napkins, plastic cutlery, and cups. Toothpicks are often shelved alongside or above these products. At some locations, you may also spot toothpicks in the same vicinity as disposable aluminum baking pans and food storage bags.
Grocery stores like Kroger, Safeway, Publix, and Meijer typically follow this same pattern of product placement. Head to the aisle with the paper plates and plastic cups and do a careful scan for boxes of toothpicks. If you‘re still not seeing them, look a few shelves above or below eye level.
Scope Out the Party Supply Section
Another part of Walmart where toothpicks are frequently found is the party supplies section. This aisle contains paper goods like colorful napkins and tablecloths along with disposable serving platters, birthday candles, and cocktail accessories. Some stores keep toothpicks near the paper baking cups and pastry decorating tools to cater to shoppers making cupcakes or appetizers for a crowd.
Let the Walmart App Guide You
For the fastest route to finding toothpicks, use the Walmart+ app on your smartphone. This free app for iOS and Android allows you to search the inventory of your selected Walmart location to determine which aisle and shelf a particular product is stocked.
After logging in, click on the "Services" menu and select "Store Map & Search." Enter "toothpicks" into the search bar and the app will display which (if any) toothpicks are available at that store and exactly where to find them. You can even filter your search by brand, type, count or price to ensure you find the right match.
The Walmart app is especially helpful when shopping at a Supercenter, since these stores have hundreds of aisles and a massive product assortment that can be overwhelming to navigate. If you‘re without a smartphone or the app isn‘t cooperating, you can always ask a friendly associate to point you in the right direction.
Glance Down the Dental Care Aisle
In addition to traditional wooden toothpicks, some stores carry dental toothpicks made of soft rubber or silicone. These are designed to safely remove food particles and plaque between teeth, functioning similarly to disposable flossers. If you strike out locating toothpicks among the paper goods and party supplies, try scanning the dental hygiene aisle near the toothbrushes and floss.
It‘s not unusual for people to confuse toothpicks and floss picks. But there are a few key differences:
- Toothpicks are made of wood and have one or two sharp ends for dislodging food
- Floss picks have a curved plastic handle with a small strand of floss stretched across
- Dental toothpicks have a flexible, rubbery tip that‘s gentler on gums than wood
- Floss picks are more effective at scraping plaque and getting into tight spaces between teeth
Browse the Kitchen Gadgets Area
Since toothpicks are sometimes used for cooking and serving food, you may find them in the same aisle as other kitchen tools and gadgets. Look near the spatulas, tongs, ice cream scoops, corkscrews, and skewers. Some grocery stores with large houseware sections, like Meijer and Fred Meyer, stock toothpicks alongside cutting boards and butcher blocks.
Deciding Which Toothpicks to Buy
Now that you‘ve successfully tracked down the toothpicks, you may be overwhelmed by the options available. Walmart carries its own Great Value brand of toothpicks in a pack of 2500 for under $8. These plain wooden toothpicks are ideal for inserting into sliders or club sandwiches or using to check if baked goods are done.
If you want something a little more elegant for a charcuterie board or cocktail garnish, Diamond sells sturdy 4-inch toothpicks made of bamboo that come in a reusable glass jar. For a pop of color, Unique Bargains offers a set of 1000 4.7-inch wooden toothpicks in bright hues like yellow, pink, and green. Perfect for spearing olives or fruit to dress up drinks!
As mentioned before, The Doctor‘s is a popular brand of interdental toothpicks with a flexible, pointed rubber tip. These are a good option for people with sensitive gums or orthodontic work who find standard toothpicks too abrasive. GUM also makes silicone-coated toothpicks called Soft-Picks that gently remove plaque and massage the gums.
A Brief History of the Toothpick
Toothpicks are one of the oldest (and simplest) tools used by humans, with evidence of toothpick use dating back to Neanderthal times! In 3000 BC, bronze toothpicks were common among wealthy Egyptians and Greeks. Upper class citizens of 17th century France and England used elaborate silver and gold toothpicks as a sign of prestige.
Mass production of toothpicks began in the mid-1800s in the United States and Japan. The first toothpick manufacturing machine was invented in 1869 by Marc Signorello. Today, most wooden toothpicks are made from birchwood and produced in Maine or Vietnam.
Toothpicks are mainly used to remove food from teeth, but they‘ve served many other purposes over the years. Additional uses for toothpicks include:
- Testing baked goods like cakes and muffins for doneness
- Holding together small appetizers like sliders or spanakopita triangles
- Skewering fruit or olives for cocktail garnishes
- Applying glue to small areas for crafting
- Cleaning tight crevices of appliances and keyboards
- Lighting candles or gas stoves
- Making tiny hole in egg to prevent cracking during boiling
- Securing broken zippers
- Marking the center of pies or cakes for even slicing
Toothpick Etiquette and Safety
While they may seem harmless, toothpicks can cause injury if used improperly. Never use a toothpick while walking, running, or lying down to avoid accidental swallowing or poking. Carefully supervise children when allowing them to use toothpicks. Discard used wooden toothpicks after one use to prevent the spread of germs.
It‘s considered rude in most social settings to use a toothpick at the table in plain view. If you must dislodge food from your teeth during a meal, excuse yourself to the restroom to pick in private. At a casual gathering or cookout, it‘s usually acceptable to quietly use a toothpick behind a napkin or cupped hand. Refrain from using a toothpick like a cigarette or waving it around while talking.
After using a toothpick, place it on your plate or in a napkin to dispose of later. Avoid putting used toothpicks directly on the table or leaving them in your glass. If you drop your toothpick on the floor, pick it up promptly and put it out of reach to keep small children or pets from finding it.
Alternative Ways to Dislodge Food
Although handy, toothpicks aren‘t the only tools for removing stuck food from your teeth or braces. Other options include:
- Swishing with warm water or mouthwash
- Gentle flossing with waxed or dental tape
- Using an interdental flosser with a fine rubber tip
- Brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Rinsing with a water flosser or oral irrigator
If you have a permanent retainer or braces, consult with your orthodontist about how to safely remove trapped food particles to avoid damaging the hardware. They may recommend special floss, tiny brushes, or oral irrigators designed to clean around wires and brackets.
Fun Facts About Toothpicks
Whether you‘re a daily toothpick user or just keep some in the back of your utensil drawer for parties, here are some intriguing facts and statistics about these tiny sticks:
- The average American uses about 14 toothpicks per month
- It takes around 2000 toothpicks to equal one pound
- Toothpicks can be made of wood, bamboo, plastic, metal, or bone
- The world‘s largest toothpick mosaic used over 200,000 toothpicks
- Toothpicks played a crucial role in securing the first transatlantic telegraph cable
- 90% of toothpicks sold in the US are made by four companies in Maine
- Charles Forster is considered the pioneer of the American toothpick manufacturing industry
- In the 19th century Brazil, a gift of a gold toothpick case was considered a marriage proposal
To Recap…
Although small in stature, toothpicks are a multi-purpose tool to keep in stock at home. Most grocery stores, including Walmart, shelve toothpicks in one of four areas:
- The paper goods aisle near napkins, plates and cups
- The party supplies section close to cake decorating items
- The dental care aisle alongside floss and floss picks
- The kitchen gadgets area near spatulas, tongs, and skewers
If you‘re having trouble finding them, use the Walmart app‘s product locator feature or flag down an associate for help. Consider the material, size, and intended use when selecting which type of toothpicks to purchase. Opt for plain wooden ones for cooking and silicone-tipped dental toothpicks for safer teeth cleaning.
Always use toothpicks carefully to avoid injury and dispose of them properly. Avoid using toothpicks in formal dining situations or waving them around while socializing. With these tips in mind, you‘ll be a toothpick finding and usage expert in no time!
