Interested to know your thoughts ……..

That turns my stomach just reading it. I think I would have said something (after a couple of glasses of wine). DH would probably have said "don't look then", but once seen, you cannot unsee it. Yuk

Disgusting. Also, people who file nails on the train in full view.

I have receeding gums and consequently get food stuck especially around my molars.
I've changed to a much better dentist and the hygienist has worked wonders.But I need to use dental picks after meals to keep gum disease at bay. However I keep them in a container in my handbag and go to the toilet and wait till there's no one else washing their hands if I really feel it can't wait when I'm out.I would never do it at the table with others when out.

One thing that really does turn my stomach at the table is when someone gives their nose a good blowing. My mother in law used to do that all the time.

Eurghh.... Definitely I would have asked to move tables and (if asked) I would have told the hotel staff the reason.

Same as Washerwoman. Receding gums on one side and dentist cannot help. Always have to use toothpick to clean after every meal but certainly wouldn’t do it in front of anyone. Anyone filing their nails in front of me brings on instant nausea. I can’t stand it, a bit like fingernails down a blackboard!

Many years ago in Cyprus I noticed several women using a toothpick after their meals but they did place their free hand in front of their mouths so nowhere near as bad.

Definitely not acceptable, and totally un-ladylike, but wouldn’t want to be subjected to a man doing it at table either! Not how I would want to spend my Christmas - having to endure the appalling manners of others.

I’m glad you brought this up because I have an older friend who does this at the meal table and I can’t stand it. I wish she’d clear off to the washroom or just not do it whilst we are all eating. It’s horrible. Same lady likes to show her leg ulcers off ( yuk and double yuk) . Foul.

I would have found it very hard not to be physically sick at that. Totally revolting.

I'm another who cannot stand nail files, too. I agree with the finger nails down the blackboard comment.

I have a new manager, at our first face to face meeting, with 5 minutes to go to the end he took out a plastic bristle toothpick, hid it behind his hand and started to clean his teeth, I didn’t know where to look! He’s Dutch, maybe that’s ok there, but really, at a first business meeting? Maybe it was some sort of test? Now, I know how annoying feeling a bit of stuck food is, but wouldn’t dream of doing anything about it until I was alone.

I once went for an interview at a care agency - got there 10 minutes early - the man greeted me with a mouthful of sandwich, then spent the interview picking at his teeth. His dog was present throughout, and left hairs all over my smart skirt and jacket. I got the job but didn't take it.

I was once in a restaurant when a man took out his denture and left it on the table while he ate!

inishowen

I was once in a restaurant when a man took out his denture and left it on the table while he ate!

My mother does that because she says they hurt her. It drives me mad!

inishowen

I was once in a restaurant when a man took out his denture and left it on the table while he ate!

My 75 year old brother once did this when we went out with him - he wrapped his dentures in a serviette

I would have asked to be placed somewhere else. I am a stickler for cleaning my teeth (use those little 'inbetween' brushes every day but that is done in privacy of my shower room. If they asked why moving table I suspect I might have said.

Toothpicks are common all over Europe and people frequently pick their teeth after a meal but usually do it behind their hand.

DaisyL

Toothpicks are common all over Europe and people frequently pick their teeth after a meal but usually do it behind their hand.

Yes I was about to mention that. You are a sensitive lot ! But how boring to be seated with same people for the duration …

I agree with others who've said they'd have asked to be moved to a different table. No one should have to put up with someone tooth picking in front of them! 😨

Having lived in Turkey for 13 years I am quite used to this, but it is always done behind your other hand so although you know what they are doing it's not in your face.

Not acceptable at the table. She coukd have gone to the washroom after the meal and done her dental ablutions there.

Good housekeeping says that you leave and go to the bathroom.
www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/q-and-a/a21039/food-stuck-teeth-nov05/

I was taught as a teenager that it was acceptable to use a toothpick at the table in France and Italy, but not, repeat NOT in Britain, Denmark or Germany. I was also taught that well-mannered French and Italians held their table napkin in front of their mouth while employing a toothpick, and that they did not attempt to converse at the same time.

In the 1970s Denmark became obsessed with dental hygiene to such an extent that people brought a tooth brush with them when dining out, either in restaurants and in private homes and would bag the bathroom for ten minutes or so after a meal to brush their teeth. Suddenly toothpicks appeared on tables and were generally used, with no attempt at discretion.

I do not enjoy watching people picking their teeth, renewing lipstick and powder or combing their hair at the table, but unfortunately you commonly see all three things being done there.

Babies' dirty or wet nappies were not changed in public either, when I was young, then for years they were, now young parents seem to be reverting to former standards on this point, thank Heaven!

On the other hand, we were all taught to wash our hands before sitting down to any meal as well as before setting a table - now no-one bothers about this either and my father was accustomed as a GP doing home visits to a basin, clean towel, soap and a jug of warm water being provided so he could wash his hands in the bedrooms of the 1950s and '60s that did not usually have a wash-basin installed.

I think it's yukkie, but I think it's acceptable on the continent. I cannot bear food stuck in my teeth and usually leg it to the loo to get out the dental floss in between courses.