Toothpicks

Should one clean one’s teeth with a toothpick at the table, even when covering the mouth with a hand?

Talking into your mobile in a restaurant, putting your feet on the opposite seat on a train or wearing a cap in closed spaces – all that is done by many today and, in some instances, also accepted by society. But this is not very classy and, above all, not correct.

The same applies to using a toothpick at the table. This is why toothpicks are not on the table in fancy restaurants, they have to be ordered specifically and used in the bathroom. Ladies can, at the same time, freshen up their lipstick. Even when modestly holding your hand over your mouth, the others can easily imagine what you are working on. But there are exceptions when someone is sitting on a bench, wedged between other guests, and cannot get up from the table without more ado. In such cases, briefly freeing the interdental spaces would surely be acceptable.