Dinner Outing Derailed by Dental Care
Dear Abby | January 22nd, 2026 | Letter 2 of 2
DEAR ABBY: My husband and I were dining with friends in a high-end restaurant. The food was great, and so was the conversation. My husband leaned close to me and whispered, She's brushing her teeth! I glanced to my left. I had thought the gal at the next table was just using a toothpick. No, she was vigorously brushing with a full-sized toothbrush! After about a minute, she placed the toothbrush into a cosmetic bag and pulled out a denture container. She then proceeded to insert and adjust her retainer. We were flabbergasted. Never in all my years have I seen such appalling table manners. Perhaps we shouldn't have been staring, but it was one of those moments in which you are frozen to the spot. Abby, that restaurant has very nice bathrooms. What is happening to our society? -- SHOCKED IN THE SOUTH.
DEAR SHOCKED: I understand why this woman's performance stopped you cold. But, please, don't blame society for her ignorance of the rules of etiquette, which dictate that to avoid grossing out those around us in public, we should excuse ourselves from the table and take care of our oral hygiene privately, in the restroom if needed.
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