# licking fingers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 1, 2000, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/licking-fingers/31576 "2000-09-01T01:52:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2000, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/licking-fingers/31576/21 "2000-09-03T17:07:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by teppei \* > > Am I truly an anal retentive psycho, or are there others out there like me? Yeah, you are an anal retentive psycho. Consider the fact that the average human mouth has a small universe of bacteria running around, creating plaque and all that fun stuff. A person licking their fingers won’t really make a big difference in the bacteria coming in to the mouth. It’s like worrying about flooding when someone pours a cup of water into an ocean. ---
**Author:** ![Nanno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nanno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanno)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2000, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/licking-fingers/31576/22 "2000-09-03T22:04:53Z")
Is this about licking your fingers? or someone else licking them? either way no problem. ---
**Author:** ![teppei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/58956e/32.png) [@teppei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teppei)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2000, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/licking-fingers/31576/23 "2000-09-04T05:33:23Z")
it’s more like the stuff that they’re gonna touch after. that doesn’t gross you out at all? ---
**Author:** ![Nanno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nanno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanno)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2000, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/licking-fingers/31576/24 "2000-09-04T16:22:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by teppei \* > \*\*it’s more like the stuff that they’re gonna touch after. that doesn’t gross you out at all? \*\* does this mean you have never had your fingers licked? ---
**Author:** ![Intriguing\_Question\_Mark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ee59a6/32.png) [@Intriguing\_Question\_Mark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intriguing_Question_Mark)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2000, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/licking-fingers/31576/25 "2000-09-05T03:23:23Z")
Teppei cut his finger. It bled. He sucked on it. He said it was different. I dont see a difference, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2000, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/licking-fingers/31576/26 "2000-09-05T05:21:50Z")
If I’m at a restaurant, or eating at work, I generally don’t lick my fingers. Not because I’m an anal-retentive psycho, but I just don’t see the need to possibly spread my spit on people I’m not related to. Home, or around family and close friends, is another matter. I’m considerably more casual in the privacy of my own home, and finger-licking doesn’t bother me at all. [hijack] What I’ve never understood is why my _husband_ completely freaks at the thought of me using his toothbrush. He’s my _husband,_ for Pete’s sake! He’ll put his _tongue_ in my mouth, why not his toothbrush? [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![teppei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/58956e/32.png) [@teppei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teppei)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2000, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/licking-fingers/31576/27 "2000-09-05T13:02:26Z")
because it’s more gross to have blood on everything than to temporarily put the finger in your mouth to stop it. Lesson learned: when testing a supposedly dull pocket knife, don’t rub your thumb on the edge. It hurts. I can see where your husband is coming from, Persephone. since a tooth brush is used for hygienic purposes, and not (unless you’re really kinky) for erotic, then it should be as sterile as possible. Though sterile really isn’t the right word. _thinks_ It would be like if you blew your nose in a hankerchef. There’s no way in hell I would use it after you, even if I were dated or married or whatever to you. And no, my fingers have never been licked. _cringes at the thought_ ---
**Author:** ![Nanno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nanno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanno)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/licking-fingers/31576/28 "2000-09-06T02:33:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by teppei \* > \*\*And no, my fingers have never been licked. > _cringes at the thought_ \*\* too bad ---
**Author:** ![teppei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/58956e/32.png) [@teppei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teppei)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2000, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/licking-fingers/31576/29 "2000-09-06T13:32:07Z")
_thinks_ I could see how it could be, but I think the smell would be overwhelming. Cuz no matter how clean and winter freshy someone’s mouth is, the spit will always have that smell to it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/licking-fingers/31576.md?page=1)