<P> A tongue depressor is a tool used in medical practice to depress the tongue to allow for examination of the mouth and throat . The most common modern tongue depressors are flat, thin, wooden blades, smoothed and rounded at both ends, but, historically, tongue depressors have been made of a variety of materials . Since they are inexpensive and difficult to clean, wooden tongue depressors are labeled for disposal after a single use . </P> <P> Hobbyists and teachers have found a multitude of uses for tongue depressors (sometimes called "craft sticks" or "popsicle sticks") in their projects . Tongue depressors may be used to form so - called "stick bombs". </P>

Where should a tongue depressor be placed after it is used