How rude or tacky is it to pick your teeth at a restaurant table, even if you shield your mouth?

Question

How rude or tacky is it to pick your teeth at a restaurant table, even if you shield your mouth?

Answer 1

Picking your teeth is normally considered rude or tacky to most people. Some people, however, have done this in front of me or find it acceptable. I tried not to mind but it kind of grosses me out. It's one of my minor pet peeves. If you really need to floss your teeth, just go to the bathroom.

Answer 2

under no circumstances would that be acceptable

Answer 3

In the 17th century the toothpick was an essential item for a young man, and he either had a nice silver one with possibly jewels or at least a nice silver case for his wooden or ivory ones.  This would lead me to believe that picking your teeth in public used to be accepted, after all why not show off how much wealth you have.

Now however it is not considered polite, and should be done in the bathroom.

As an exception it seems permissible to have a toothpick in your mouth in public if you are quitting the far worse habit of smoking.

Answer 4

It appears to me that all have written you some good answers.....so yes, it is rude excuse yourself and go in the direction of the phone booth and change costumes.......nite

Answer 5

If the teeth really need picking that bad go to the restroom

Answer 6

LOL! have you ever seen someone pick their teeth behind their hand? It honestly looks like they are picking their nose! That is definitely rude!  PLEASE don't do that!

It is considered rude to pick ones teeth at the table. It is also rude to make those sucking noises to dislodge bits.

By the way, if the small of your back itches, ask your companion, or go to the bathroom, that looks pretty bad too!

Thank you so much for being concerned about things like table manners!

;)

Hope this helps!

Answer 7

very. just go to the bathroom and carry some floss

Answer 8

It's fairly rude.  Shielding your mouth wouldn't really do that much good in a case like that anyway.  I'd just excuse myself from the table and run to the bathroom.

Answer 9

Rude. It's common and accepted in Asian restaurants though. It's a culture thing. Slurping soup from the bowl in a loud manner is acceptable and the thing to do in Japan. It's pointless to tell Japanese it's rude. To them it's not rude. So, in Japan do as the Japanese do. In US do as the Americans do.

In Japan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Indonesia, public dispay of affection is rude, but in  the US it's not considered rude.