Medline Tongue Depressors

The right tools, equipment and supplies are essential for any facility, including hospitals, veterinary practices and schools. Sterile Medline tongue depressors are ideal for hospitals and exam rooms. They're also a good addition to a school nurse's station. Teachers and parents find nonsterile varieties useful for numerous crafts and activities. Shop Staples' large selection of tongue depressors to find the right type for your needs.

Choose Sterile Tongue Depressors for Medical Use
Tongue depressors have many uses in the medical field. Not only do they make throat examinations more efficient and comfortable for the patient, they're also excellent tools for applying ointment. Pharmacists may use them to stir or mix medications, and veterinarians find them beneficial as well. They're sometimes used in beauty applications such as cosmetic waxing. Medline and other brands offer several sizes. All models of tongue depressors share a common shape: a flat stick about half an inch wide with rounded ends. Most models are 6 inches long, and there are smaller sizes for infants and children ranging from 4.5 to 5.5 inches long. Tongue depressors for patient use are individually wrapped in sterile packaging.

Benefits of Nonsterile Tongue Depressors
There are several brands of nonsterile tongue depressors available for a variety of nonmedical purposes. They're usually called wooden craft sticks, and they come in more sizes than standard medical models. Some are as short as 3.5 inches and others are up to 10 inches long. Craft sticks are popular for many creative projects and activities, especially those for children. They're easy to hold, and the wood is an ideal surface for glue, paint, googly eyes and glitter. Because they're made of soft wood species, you can even manipulate them into curved shapes after soaking them in water or vinegar. You can purchase craft sticks in bulk packaging, as they don't have to be individually wrapped to preserve sterility.

Are Tongue Depressors Available to Buy in Bulk?
Sterile and nonsterile styles are most commonly available in high-count packages. You can usually find bulk boxes with hundreds or even thousands of items per package. Nonsterile craft sticks are generally sold unwrapped, whereas those for medical use come in sterile packaging.

Are There Flavored Tongue Depressors?
Some brands offer flavored models, which are usually designed to help make children more comfortable during oral medical exams. Some popular choices are cherry and grape.

Are All Tongue Depressors Made of Wood?
The vast majority of tongue depressors are made of wood, usually redwood, pine or balsa. There are a few options made of polyethylene, which is both sturdy and slightly flexible. Some may contain latex, so check the packaging if you are concerned about latex allergies.

Are Wooden Craft Sticks Safe to Use as Tongue Depressors?
All instruments for patient contact should be sterile for safety reasons. It is impractical to try to sterilize craft sticks. You should purchase tongue depressors in sterile packaging for exam use. Browse the wide variety of tongue depressors and wooden craft sticks at Staples to find an option that meets your requirements.