# Dear Guy Who Brushes His Teeth in the Office Restroom, **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 7, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209 "2012-05-07T19:07:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209/81 "2012-06-13T19:52:04Z")
I usually don’t have time to brush my teeth before leaving home in the morning, so I do it soon after arriving at work. I also brush my teeth after lunch in the middle of the day. I don’t spit on anyone or make unpleasant horking noises. Nobody’s ever complained. ---
**Author:** ![gunnergoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e95f7d/32.png) [@gunnergoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gunnergoz)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209/82 "2012-06-13T19:57:54Z")
Just be thankful there are sinks in that bathroom, and that he was using one, instead of the alternative… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209/83 "2012-06-13T20:49:55Z")
> [@johnspartan](#): > > Also… > > Standard bathroom functions are done in some degree of privacy even in an office restroom. Stalls and dividers and such. I’m not thrilled that strangers may be in there obluting at the same time, but at least I don’t have to look at them. > > If you (again, CHOOSE TO) brush your teeth, you’re standing in the middle of the room doing it… spitting and standing with your mouth half-open and swishing and such… I don’t want to do that in front of total strangers and I’d prefer they not do it in front of me if they don’t have to. > > Ich. I’d prefer not to do it in front of you, too. So if you’re done with what you came to do, kindly _piss off_ while I clean my teeth, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209/84 "2012-06-13T20:52:30Z")
I think of this thread every time I go brush my teeth mid-day at work. It’s neat - I get to feel a tiny devilish rebellious streak while also attending to my dental hygeine! 😃 So thanks for complaining, OP - you’ve given me motivation that I’m sure my dentist will applaud. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209/85 "2012-06-19T17:48:41Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I think of this thread every time I go brush my teeth mid-day at work. It’s neat - I get to feel a tiny devilish rebellious streak while also attending to my dental hygeine! 😃 So thanks for complaining, OP - you’ve given me motivation that I’m sure my dentist will applaud. I think we’ve stumbled across something… we should suggest this as a PSA campaign for the American Dental Association. “Brush your teeth in the middle of the day… it’s a great way to get someone to roll their eyes” ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209/86 "2012-06-19T18:35:22Z")
Where do you stand on people shaving in the office bathroom? I’ve seen people doing that a few times. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209/87 "2012-06-19T20:31:03Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > There’s a lot of spitting going on > There’s strange noises > It’s pretty… intimate. I mean, you’re looking into somebody’s mouth. > Except for handwashing, which is standard and accepted, the rest of our bathroom activities are done in private. Brushing your teeth crosses the line of ‘accepted, public activity in the restroom’ > It’s not commonly done and therefore sticks out as odd. Add in the weird noises and vocal spitting and it’s just a bit weird. Not egregious, but weird. I’d rather hear someone spitting than someone farting. But that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209/88 "2012-06-19T20:41:34Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I’d rather hear someone spitting than someone farting. But that’s just me. No, it’s not just you. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209/89 "2012-06-20T01:51:37Z")
Eh, I have a co-worker that flosses and brushes his teeth every day after lunch in the men’s room. Doesn’t bother me at all. He’s a health-freak, and fastidiously clean - he’s approaching 60 but looks 40. And he never makes a mess, cleans everything up. No complaints there. Now, the people that clip their nails at work (usually at their desk) - that seriously makes me recoil with disgust. It’s both men and women. I hate, hate, hate it. So nasty. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209/90 "2012-06-27T17:53:53Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Where do you stand on people shaving in the office bathroom? I’ve seen people doing that a few times. Hmmm… Shaving with a disposable blade doesn’t make the same amount of noise as brushing your teeth does. Someone could be shaving with a disposable in los facilidades and I might not even realize it if I’m installed. The process does leave quite a bit of mess, so of course it also matters if he’s very thorough about cleaning up when done (sink scum and such). Whirring up an electric razor is a bit different. I don’t think people unnecessarily or excessively shave more often than they might need to, though… so the times I’ve seen it in an office room it’s more emergency (“Crap, I didn’t know I’d have a client meeting today!”) vs. “la-dee-da doing a home preening technique in the office can.” ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209/91 "2012-06-27T19:05:52Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Ok, can the “ew, gross” people explain what, exactly, is gross about it? You spit in the sink, but others are also washing fecal matter down the sink, and the toothbrush never touches the sink, so no germ transfer there. You’re in a room with people who are peeing and pooping, but there’s nothing magically magnetic about a toothbrush that germs would be attracted to it - you inhale those same germs with each breath. > > Phrased another way: what’s gross about washing your teeth and tongue that’s not gross about washing your hands? I’m one of those people who feels like I’m being coated in a fine layer of poop cooties the entire time I’m in a public restroom. It doesn’t help that we have a particularly…egregious…bathroom user in our group, either. We have several people who brush in there every day and I’m thoroughly squicked by it; I can’t help it. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209/92 "2012-06-27T22:47:46Z")
I knew a girl in high school who would brush her teeth _in the water fountain_ after lunch. In the bathroom would have been such an improvement! ---
**Author:** ![oreally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ab992/32.png) [@oreally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oreally)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209/93 "2012-06-28T02:41:21Z")
Is he Indian? Seriously, I’ve seen some Indians do some weird stuff in the office restroom. Drinking from those nasty sinks is just the start. What tf is up with wetting the soles of your shoes?? Have seen this more than a few times. ---
**Author:** ![MrDurden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed655f/32.png) [@MrDurden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDurden)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209/94 "2012-06-28T06:06:31Z")
The other option is having him brush his teeth with a 2 cups at his desk. One with water, and one to spit in. Would you prefer that? Would the people around him? No, probably not. This guy is being considerate if anything. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209/95 "2012-06-28T21:47:31Z")
I teach college classes and don’t want to emit anything unpleasant in class after eating, so I brush my teeth in the faculty or student restroom. I could chew gum or mints in class, but that would look crude. Anyway, no one has ever said anything negative. In fact, some people have walked in, seen me brushing, and said, “That is a really good idea. I should start doing that.” FWIW ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209/96 "2012-06-29T15:08:03Z")
I would prefer to not brush my teeth in the office restroom, but I’ve got braces now and it’s absolutely mandatory that I brush after eating. Food collects in and around the brackets, in the new spaces between my teeth. It’s disgusting how much food I floss & brush out of my mouth after eating. :eek: > [@SticksAndString](#): > > I swear they sent in the most incompetent boob th ey could find because it took him NINE tries NINE!!!:eek: to get the IV in. You’re a better person than I am. I learned from my mother (who was also a tough stick) that you give them (1) chance! Maybe two if the pull out and try to go back in instead of rooting for your vein under your skin. Then you politely, but FIRMLY, demand someone more experienced. Never, ever, let them try nine times. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-guy-who-brushes-his-teeth-in-the-office-restroom/621209.md?page=4)