I did not want to write on this subject. I’ve avoided it for years. But the time has come. Seems like I’ve been out for dinner more than usual in the last few months, giving me too many occasions to witness people putting their fingers in their mouth to dislodge food stuck in their teeth. (Or stuck between their cheeks and gums.) OK, right there, I’m already a little nauseated thinking about this.
This is bad etiquette, plain and simple. And has a huge yuck factor. We spend quite a lot of time teaching toddlers and children not to put their fingers in their mouths. Dang, this is obvious – it’s germy. Imagine watching someone do this and knowing that you will have to shake that hand at the end of the meal. Or touch something they’ve handled. Gross.
Yes, you could try to extricate the stubborn material using a toothpick or a napkin as way to keep your fingers clean and dry. But excusing yourself to the restroom and attending to this is really the only acceptable solution. It avoids subjecting your dinner companions to the thought of partially masticated foodstuffs stuck in your mouth. Mastication: the first stage of digestion. Just contemplate that for a moment and I think you’ll agree.
OK, so how to deal with this common problem? While at the table you could try a discreet gulp of water to swish around combined with a not-too-obvious tongue move to dislodge the particle. Sometimes this is effective, but not usually. So off you go to the restroom to take care of business and also do a visual check for spinach or parsley that may have taken up residence in your smile. Obviously, some floss would be handy but you can also make do with a piece of paper folded up in a small triangle shape or a business card as makeshift floss. Or you can try a plastic straw pinched at the end.
If desperate, a ballpoint pen cap or a paperclip or even an earring post might be used, but metal items would definitely not be dentist approved.
The best solution is to carry a few floss picks in your wallet. For $5, you can have 60 minty floss picks, thoughtfully packed in tiny travel cases to keep your smile bright and your mouth free of debris.
Is it just me, or have you also noticed an uptick in poor etiquette/hygiene stuff? Feel free to comment!