Toothpicks!

We use Piksters in preference to Teepees. They are longer and easier to manipulate.

I haven't been to Italy for 14 years now, but all the restaurants we went to had toothpicks on the tables. If you bought a cruet set most of them had a place for toothpicks. No one seemed to think there was anything wrong with using them,

Greciangirl

I have to use toothpicks after eating because I have gappy teeth and food always gets stuck.
But unfortunately, it seems that wooden toothpicks are no longer available now. They seem to have been replaced with plastic ones which I hate.
The best type were the bamboo sticks and no longer available it seems.
I use two different types of tepee brushes in the bathroom, but never in public.
Does anyone know if wooden sticks are still available.
If so, where from.?

Cocktail sticks!

My friend spent over £12,000 a few years ago having her teeth sorted. Now a days she has no qualms in having a good old ' dig around' after a meal. Despite subtle hints about it not being polite, she just carries on.

I find Teepees last ages longer than the cheaper ones (some of which shed their bristles at the first go), but I am always losing the little container for them. I cannot use floss (gets stuck) and my hygienist tells me that wooden ones can splinter!

I use the plastic toothpick in my Swiss Army knife.

I have to use toothpicks after eating because I have gappy teeth and food always gets stuck.
But unfortunately, it seems that wooden toothpicks are no longer available now. They seem to have been replaced with plastic ones which I hate.
The best type were the bamboo sticks and no longer available it seems.
I use two different types of tepee brushes in the bathroom, but never in public.
Does anyone know if wooden sticks are still available.
If so, where from.?

Sorry but even if a mouth is covered by a hand, the very fact I know it’s going on in public turns my stomach!

We always have some in a little box on the table and in my handbag! The polite way to use them is just to cover your mouth with your other hand. This was just a way of life and matter of fact in our almost 30 years living in the Far East. Really cheap from Amazon. We also use different coloured tepes but they are confined to the bathroom as they are more for gum massage.

In the north Europe generally speaking using a tooth-pick at the table was considered rude, and even in the France, Italy or Spain, many people held their napkin in front of their mouth while useing a tooth-pick in public.

I agree it was fashionable in the late 60s and 70s for restaurants to put tooth-picks out and it does seem to have gone out of fashion again, as has the other 70s fashion of kissing French fashion on one or either cheek of the person you are greeting.

Personally, I excuse myself and go to the toilet if I want to comb my hair, pick my teeth or renew my make-up. As a child I was also taught that while you might get away with blowing your nose at the table in Britain, I must never, ever do so when visiting relations in Denmark. There you had to restrain yourself, as leaving the table for any reason at all, during a meal was considered bad manners.

I was in hospital for 4 weeks a few years ago, I was taken in unexpectedly after being found unconscious in bed, and had nothing with me , once recovered enough to eat, etc, I had no toothbrush or similar until eventually my son came down to Wales ( from London) and brought me things asked for. Previously I kept getting food stuck in my teeth and no amount of prodding etc would shift one particular area. I pleaded with the nurses for a toothpick, a cocktail stick, anything… I got NOTHING. No help. it was *****! You would think they would have been able to find some little instrument, bit of wood or ? to help?

We have tried the brushes, but don’t get on with them. I certainly don’t buy from the dentist because the price is much higher than the high street.

I always carry some around but mostly forget to use them (in private, she adds hastily)
I still see them in cafes and restaurants in Spain, and sometimes in France too.

I got a box from EBay or Amazon - I keep some in my bag for emergencies but, never at the table!

at home I use but I do not think now its PC. its a private thing now

We were taught how to use them when I was a child. You have to cover your mouth with your hand.
I can’t remember actually doing it😂

Have you tried those little brushes? I get them at my dentists and use them every meal, as I have teeth too close for flossing, it gets stuck.

We use teepees too (in private) but find they shred pretty quickly these days. We also use wooden cocktail sticks. Has anyone got any better recommendations?

kittylester

I once thought about buying DH a silver one.

Great idea! My OH is prone to using these things. I don't. They don't work for me because they seem just to get stuck in my teeth. Flossing is the way for me.
I wouldn't do either in public. It's something other people shouldn't have to witness imo.

I once thought about buying DH a silver one.

I use teepee sticks and disappear to the ladies after eating to use them with a small mirror I carry.

You could always pop to the loo and pick your teeth at your leisure!

Awful to do in company which is probably why they are not on tables now.