It would. It works since my first day of airbrushing. The smallest nozzles I have are cleaned using sharpened toothpick. I sharpen them using diamond wheel
The one that's used for metal cutters sharpening, it takes seconds to have perfect shape of the toothpick taper, though it can be successfully done with fine sandpaper lying on some flat even surface, but it will take minutes to get sharpened tip.
BTW, I also use mentioned bristle brushes, but they're called "liners" for me
Good addition to sharpened toothpicks.