Picking your teeth at dinner

I just had dinner with my grandfather and it was one of the most unpleasant experiences I have had to suffer in quite some time. He was eating spinach and after he was done he just sat there picking his teeth with his finger for like five minutes getting all the loose strands out. They would get stuck on his slimy finger and he would wipe them on the side of the plate. Just thinking about it brings vomit into my mouth. Is this not considered rude by Germans? Do they somehow not recognize how utterly disgusting this behaviour is?

Shitting in public is 'utterly disgusting'. A little spinach on someone's finger that they picked out of their teeth? Big fucking deal. He's picking his teeth in front of his grandkid, not the queen of England.

Ha, ha, IPJ!

I can tell you that most of the Germans I know will pick their teeth in company if they have to, but they'll cover their mouth with the non-picking hand while doing it.

whoa weird that you say that cinzia. he was like half covering his mouth with his other hand while doing it.

Wow, you sure show some filial piety.

You're in Germany now, get used to their customs instead of classing them as disgusting people because their norms are not the same as yours.

"You're in Germany now, get used to their customs instead of classing them as disgusting people because their norms are not the same as yours."

If only the Germans would return the favor. :-)

I get extremely annoyed by this kind of stuff: picking teeth, licking your fingers while you eat, etc., however from what I've heard, this is nothing compared to going out in India were burping and pulling chewed food out of your mouth with your fingers and putting it back on your plate are apparently common practice!?

Puhleaze... This isn't a German custom, it's just impolite. Sorry.

don't pick on india, eating with hands is the best thing ever! curry is only then perfect if you can use your hands.

Jeez! Let's not turn this into a get-over-it-you're-in-Germany-now-deal-with-their-bullshit thread. She didn't say the people were disgusting, just the picking teeth behaviour. I agree. It's impolite, no matter who your company is. Furthermore, German people normally cover their mouth with the other hand whilst picking their teeth.. you don't see that in the US. There, if you have a toothpick, you can fling your gunk wherever you want.

Hated, your location is USA. Was this dinner in Germany, and is the grandfather German? Have you considered giving him an ivory - sorry non-ecologist - a sturdy plastic toothpick for his birthday? Just as a subtle hint.

Somehow I knew you'd be from the US, take a step back and prioritise your life, ffs there's more important things and some are far more vomit inducing.

If it's so rude, what's the whole toothpicks on the tables thing about then eh?

I don't see a problem with it. Stop being so damn prudish everyone.

Surely its better to just get whatevers stuck in your teeth out? I'd find it more rank looking at someone with spinach stuck between their teeth than to just give them a sec to pick it out

Back in the old days (by this I mean when I was young) we were taught to excuse one's self and perform any necessary tooth pickery in the restroom. That's what I'm teachin' my youngin's. It's a policy that might be outdated but at least no one will be starting threads about them.

DanHessen: but only after you finished your dinner, right?

Yeah they would. Threads get started about pretty much everything here. TT is a bit like the bible in that sense. There's someone and something in here to support, disgree with or decry pretty much anything you can think of. At the end of the day you'll take what suits you and ignore the rest. Oh and most of it is probably written by people under the affluence of incohol and/or various controlled substances.

I agree, that's what I was taught...

ha! I wish some people would pick their teeth before they came in for a dental appointment. Nothing as refreshing as picking LeberkaseSemmel out of someone's teeth, or tomatoe seeds or pieces of meat stuck in there festering... I mean, come on, how can you not notice that huge piece of steak never made your stomach?

I agree i'd rather see someone dig stuff out of their teeth than have it there looking at me.

And the 'taking chewed food out of your mouth and putting it on the plate' thing which is apparently normal in India. Whats wrong with that here? What are you meant to do here if you get some gristle or something rank that you do not want to to continue eating?

Ah, the old spit or swallow question.

@tom17
I was taught to be as discreet as possible when I have an "issue" while I am eating...

You're right, I stand corrected.


That wasn't my intention but, rereading my comment I can see how it seemed as if it might be. It would have been better if I'd phrased it "you're in another country" rather than specifying Germany.

Granted his behaviour was abnormal and not pleasant at all, I wouldn't want to see it myself.

For something so simple as cleaning your teeth it's amazing how different the standards can be. Growing up in Ireland I was taught that if I needed to get something out of my teeth I should go to the bathroom so when I first came to Germany their habit of cleaning their teeth at the table was disconcerting even though they do cover their mouth when doing it.
The habit which still makes me cringe is where some Americans, and an admittedly small number (and no, this is not another anti-American thread) , peel back their lips when scraping their teeth then hold the toothpick in front of them to examine whatever it is they've extracted. Why the examination FFS, you should be able to remember what you've just eaten and I don't need to see what it looks like after you've chewed it.

I blame the spinach. Unless the grandfather has a mohican? Maybe he's one of those Nazi's.

My dad's grandfather used to take out his false teeth and pick them. Preferably in public for maximum effect.

The plural for Nazi would be Nazis. No apostrophe.

Osmachar, it's also useful to provide an example, i.e. Those spelling-Nazis can be a real pain in the arse.

Shouldn't that be "Tho'se"?

Thank you so much for the lesson. My comment actually refers to the topic 'Let's talk about Nazi's' in the Regions sections. I note that it has now been corrected, presumably by admin.

My comment, which looks a bit bizarre in the light of the correction was :

<Sounds to me like he was a twat, rather than a 'Nazi'. Nice to see that the Greengrocer's apostrophe has reached Canada.>

Only Nazis pick their teeth???

Unsavory habit, but there are worse things people do.

That's all right, no need to apologise.