Tag: Graphite

While it's a common nervous habit, a 2018 Delta Dental survey revealed that nearly a quarter of adults report chewing on pens or pencils. So, what happens if you bite a pencil? The seemingly harmless habit can have serious consequences for your oral and overall health.

It's a common misconception that pencils contain toxic lead. In fact, they use non-toxic graphite, but the real concern is what happens if you get a piece of pencil lead stuck in your skin?, namely the risk of infection and the potential for a permanent mark.

Historically, before rubber erasers were invented in 1770, people used rolled-up pieces of bread to lift graphite from paper. Today, the easiest way to remove pencil marks depends on the surface, with a high-quality, clean eraser being the most reliable starting point for most materials, followed by gentle, surface-specific solutions.