Hadith guidelines on tooth-picking

Islam lays unparalleled emphasis on oral hygiene.
The emphasis on brushing the teeth with the miswak is just one example.

The Sunnah of Picking the Teeth
Another form of oral hygiene – in Islam- is the encouragement to pick the teeth after meals.

Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah ﷺ said:
‘How good is [the practice of] those in my Ummah, who wash between the fingers and toes in wudu [i.e. by doing khilal] and those who pick their teeth.’
(Ibn Abi Shaybah & Musnad Ahmad)

Tooth-picking
In the above and other Hadiths, we are taught to pick the teeth after meals. In addition to causing decay, leaving food unpicked from the teeth also creates an odour which offends others.
(Faydul Qadir)

The teeth are usually picked:
1⃣ with the tongue,
2⃣ with a finger,
3⃣ with an object like the toothpick/dental floss/waterpik etc

However, we are advised to not swallow the food particles that are picked with fingers, toothpicks or other foreign objects.

✅ Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah ﷺ said:
‘… Whoever eats and removes the [left over] food from between his teeth with his finger [or any foreign object, like a toothpick] should spit it out. What he removes [from the teeth] with his tongue, he may swallow. Whoever abides by this does well, and who does not, will not be sinful.
(Sunan Abi Dawud)

One reason for spitting what is removed with a foreign object is due to the possibility of it having blood on it. [The consumption of blood is unlawful].
(Badhul Majhud, vol. 1 pg. 23)

The above should be done with the intention of following the noble teaching of our Beloved Nabi ﷺ

Every sunnah is filled with immense barakah and benefits.