# Do your teeth touch the fork/spoon when you eat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 12, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599 "2026-01-12T16:44:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/1 "2026-01-12T16:44:10Z")
I think I’m the weird one (for this and many other reasons) but I am 100% against teeth touching anything metal, ever, for any reason. And this extends to eating scenes in film and TV where foley artists for some reason insist on REALLY amping up the sounds of eating to an absurd degree. It gives me goosebumps to hear that metal clang against teeth (which is not something I can recall ever hearing in real life, so I don’t know why it’s so prevalent in the media…) Anyway… does this resonate with anyone else? 😬 ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/2 "2026-01-12T16:45:55Z")
My teeth don’t touch my utensils, and I’m unaware of anyone in my close circle who does do that. OTOH, I’m hard of hearing, so I might not notice it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/3 "2026-01-12T16:46:50Z")
My mother taught me that it was bad manners to eat with your teeth off the cutlery. Teeth are intended to bite or chew, not to scrape. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/4 "2026-01-12T16:47:57Z")
No, I never touch my teeth with a utensil. My stepdad once stabbed his fork into my brother’s hand for doing it. ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/5 "2026-01-12T16:50:52Z")
your stepdad sounds like an interesting fella ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/6 "2026-01-12T16:54:52Z")
In a pure evil kinda way. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/7 "2026-01-12T16:59:07Z")
Once in awhile my teeth touch my utensils. But it’s not aversive when it happens. Unless I really screw up and bite down hard on what I thought was food but was actually fork. That can hurt. > [@amaguri](#): > > It gives me goosebumps to hear that metal clang against teeth Some few people seem to get an almost electric shock sensation from that. If that’s you, I’d not be surprised you _really_ don’t like even seeing or hearing it, much less doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/8 "2026-01-12T17:09:28Z")
> [@amaguri](#): > > I think I’m the weird one (for this and many other reasons) but I am 100% against teeth touching anything metal, ever, for any reason. That’s not weird, that is totally normal. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/9 "2026-01-12T17:16:23Z")
> [@amaguri](#): > > I am 100% against teeth touching anything metal, ever, for any reason. Do you not let your dentist clean your teeth? I don’t intentionally scrape my teeth against the spoon or anything, but sometimes my teeth touch my utensils. If i have a new metal crown, i can feel a little current when that happens. I don’t go “clank”, though, and i wonder what sound you are hearing. ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/10 "2026-01-12T20:43:02Z")
sorry, just to be clear, it’s the clank that is added to tv shows/movies, not real life. i’m currently watching Andor and the foley during the eating scenes is just bizarro (in what is otherwise a very good show.) with regards to the dentist, i don’t know why that’s different for me but it is. 🙂 maybe because i’m not the one who’s responsible for the contact ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/11 "2026-01-12T20:51:19Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I don’t intentionally scrape my teeth against the spoon or anything, but sometimes my teeth touch my utensils. This. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/12 "2026-01-12T20:56:55Z")
I do sometimes. I don’t think it’s audible. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/13 "2026-01-12T21:08:59Z")
> [@amaguri](#): > > sorry, just to be clear, it’s the clank that is added to tv shows/movies, not real life. i’m currently watching Andor and the foley during the eating scenes is just bizarro (in what is otherwise a very good show.) Okay. I haven’t seen that show and have no idea what you are talking about. Like @beowulff , i don’t think “utensil touching teeth” generally makes any noise to speak of. And since you started this thread, I’ve been paying attention, and my teeth contact my utensils somewhat often. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/14 "2026-01-13T00:13:20Z")
I don’t; but to my childhood friend, it was like fingers on a chalkboard (which also doesn’t bother me). ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/15 "2026-01-13T00:33:39Z")
I personally like to take small bites off the end of a fork. I was never weird about it touching teeth til I got the implants. It bugs me if that side of my mouth touches the fork or spoon. I don’t think it’s a sound thing. I don’t recall noticing in media(the sound). Clanking dishes, sure. I will notice it now, tyvm 😁 I tell you what bugs me is smacking lips while eating. I really hate that. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/16 "2026-01-13T00:44:08Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Once in awhile my teeth touch my utensils. But it’s not aversive when it happens. Yeah, it’s rare for me. I have a side question- on Blue Blood and some other TV shows I see people eating with what i consider the fork upside down. In other words the tines are turned down, not up. What’s up 😀 with that? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/17 "2026-01-13T01:34:16Z")
@DrDeth … I can’t speak to TV, but … I’m right handed. When I’m eating something like steak or ham it’s pretty typical to stab the periphery of the large hunk of meat with the fork in the left hand with tines curved downwards, then use the knife in the right hand to slice off a bite-sized hunk that contains the stabbing fork. Then simply transfer that sliced-off hunk to my mouth using the inverted fork that’s already stabbed into the hunk. Lather rinse repeat until done. Supposedly back in the day this was considered standard UK practice, but somehow gauche for Americans to do the same thing. Screw that; I’m not swapping fork from hand to hand and also inverting it twice on each round trip between each bite. If you’re talking about some other way of using an inverted fork I have no clue. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/18 "2026-01-13T01:35:47Z")
> [@amaguri](#): > > And this extends to eating scenes in film and TV where foley artists for some reason insist on REALLY amping up the sounds of eating to an absurd degree. It gives me goosebumps to hear that metal clang against teet Can you give us a real cite to this sound? IOW, a YouTube vid and the exact scene or timestamp where you think you’re hearing the faked-up noise of utensils on teeth? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/19 "2026-01-13T04:39:47Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > If you’re talking about some other way of using an inverted fork I have no clue. I am since they used their right hands with the fork, but that is interesting nonetheless, and thanks! ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599/20 "2026-01-13T05:09:11Z")
I use my fork both ways. Mostly when I’m using it to stab, and not as a tiny spatula to rest food atop. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-your-teeth-touch-the-fork-spoon-when-you-eat/1026599.md?page=2)