What Does a Toothpick or Flossing pick in a Cowboy Hat Mean?

Cowboy hats are a timeless classic symbol of cowboy attire. 

In the beginning, these hats were just a way to keep out the intense sun and make the warm outdoor working conditions more bearable. 

But with time, the hats became more personalized. Some cowboys customized their hats with unique hat bands. Others took a step ahead and kept a personal item such as a toothpick in their hats.

But how did the toothpick in that hat trend start? Was it just a way to clean the teeth, or was there a more significant meaning behind it? Let’s find out.

Why do people keep a toothpick or flossing pick in a cowboy hat?

The primary use of a toothpick in a cowboy hat is to keep the teeth clean, but it can also be a fashion statement. Conventional cowboys didn’t always have the means to brush and floss their teeth. A toothpick was a helpful tool to clean the teeth after a quick meal.

In the Wild West, it wasn’t uncommon to see a cowboy chewing on a toothpick, twig, or straw. At first, cowboys chewed on straw and twigs they found in the wild. Chewing on a twig was a way to keep the teeth clean and reduce gum disease.  

Twigs from some plants are more beneficial than others, and cowboys were very familiar with the landscape and knew which twigs to chew. Chewing on a twig was very similar to people chewing gum today. It was also a way to pass idle time.

Later on, they moved on to chewing on toothpicks. And the best place a cowboy could keep his toothpick was on his hat.

The practice of chewing on a toothpick didn’t start with cowboys. It started way out of the Wild West among high-class diners.  

Most fine dining restaurants started offering toothpicks to their customers. Chewing or even holding on to a toothpick meant you had just been to dinner at an expensive restaurant. Soon this became a way to show social status. 

Ranch workers probably picked up the habit from people who moved west. Cowboys started to harvest and carve their toothpicks. These toothpicks were more robust and more durable than the disposable toothpick offered in restaurants.

Toothpicks substituted twigs and straw, and many cowboys started keeping personally carved toothpicks in their hats.

How to add a toothpick or flossing pick to your cowboy hat?

A toothpick or a flossing pick is an excellent addition to a cowboy hat. The best way to place a toothpick in your hat is to tuck it under the hat band. This way, the toothpick is partly visible but won’t fall out.

Today cowboy toothpicks are mainly a fashion item. There are toothpicks made with copper and brass; you can even buy sterling silver toothpicks specially made for cowboy hats. These toothpicks come with a hefty price tag, but they make perfect gifts for cowboy hat fanatics or even real cowboys.

Then again, these costly toothpicks are primarily for show, and some even come with instructions that you must not use them for cleaning teeth because they can be pretty sharp, and you’ll end up injuring yourself.

Final Thoughts

A toothpick in the hat was an old cowboy trend. It was a helpful trick that allowed cowboys to look stylish while keeping their teeth clean.

Today we don’t need to keep a toothpick in our hats, but avid cowboy fans and real cowboys do their best to keep up with the traditions.

Currently, there are more than enough stylish toothpicks available, and if you already have a cowboy hat, you can always adorn it with an elegant toothpick.