# Toothpick in the mouth. A cinema trope **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 29, 2020, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606 "2020-03-29T18:09:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/21 "2020-03-30T06:19:17Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Det. Neal Washington in _ **Hill street Blues** _ always had a toothpick in his mouth. When he was shot, his partner JD brought him one while he was in the hospital. > > I think it goes back to gangster films of the '20s and '30s. Didn’t George Raft usually have a toothpick (or maybe a matchstick?) in his mouth? Captain Leland Stottlemeyer, played by Ted Levine, almost always had one in his mouth during the show “Monk.” At least, during the first few seasons. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/22 "2020-03-30T11:05:23Z")
It’s not common, but it’s not unheard of. I recall back in school when it suddenly became a popular thing amongst the jock and dirtbag crowds. For a while they were also soaking them in cinnamon oil or something. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/23 "2020-03-30T13:36:11Z")
The earliest that comes to mind is the toothpick the [Hoagy Carmichael](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLiJl2wb1NM) character chews on in in most of his scenes in _To Have and Have Not_ (1944). ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/24 "2020-03-30T13:55:30Z")
Gives the actor an excuse to hold his teeth together? Clint Eastwood could do it without a toothpick but we can’t all be Clint Eastwood. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2020, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/25 "2020-03-30T14:01:19Z")
On the current season of _Survivor: Winners at War_, Wendall constantly has a toothpick in his mouth and it makes him look like a douche. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/26 "2020-03-30T14:10:28Z")
For some reason I remember that’s one of Jeff Foxworthy’s “You know you’re a redneck when…” “…you have a toothpick in your mouth in all of your wedding pictures.” ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/27 "2020-03-30T15:00:13Z")
> [@Stinky\_Pete](#): > > For probably 40 years I will occasionally go around with a toothpick in my mouth… Why? To clean food bits from my teeth. Well, a good cleaning takes several minutes and if I am in a conversation then I can’t pick my teeth at the moment. So the toothpick sits in my mouth until I can get around to finishing the job… Wait, so you’re picking your teeth in public, then pausing until you can do more of it? That’s gross. Pick your teeth in private, then throw the toothpick away! (Well, I guess we should be glad you’re not walking around with a toothbrush hanging out) > [@minor7flat5](#): > > For some reason this is super annoying to me, to the point where if there is a character that does this regularly, I wouldn’t watch it. It’s like fingernails on a chalkboard. > [@Knavette](#): > > maybe the reason for that was bad teeth or a bad bite. > [@Acsenray](#): > > It’s not common, but it’s not unheard of. I recall back in school when it suddenly became a popular thing amongst the jock and dirtbag crowds. > [@ALOHA\_HATER](#): > > No. It’s one of those things that looks cool on screen and looks lame in real life. So, after reading this thread, are you going to keep doing it? Or is it a habit that you can’t break? ---
**Author:** ![Stinky\_Pete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Stinky\_Pete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stinky_Pete)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/28 "2020-03-30T16:32:58Z")
Will I keep doing it? Most likely. For as long as restaurants keep giving out complimentary toothpicks to their diners. But don’t worry, I’m very poor, I’m almost never able to afford to go out and eat nice meals. Hehe. But I take your point and it’s a good one. That some of yous guys are disgusted by toothpicks. I’ll keep that in mind in the future. In a long winded way I was explaining how I end up carrying a toothpick in the corner of my mouth for a bit of time. It was surprising and amusing for me to find out so many people are so deeply disturbed by the sight of a toothpick. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/29 "2020-03-30T17:41:32Z")
> [@Stinky\_Pete](#): > > It was surprising and amusing for me to find out so many people are so deeply disturbed by the sight of a toothpick. Ha, don’t even get me started on people clipping their fingernails on the Metro. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/30 "2020-03-30T19:20:26Z")
Kojak’s toothpick was his lollipop. Was THAT ever a thing for any other grown up? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/31 "2020-03-30T22:16:21Z")
> [@Stinky\_Pete](#): > > Will I keep doing it? Most likely. For as long as restaurants keep giving out complimentary toothpicks to their diners. But don’t worry, I’m very poor, I’m almost never able to afford to go out and eat nice meals. > > Hehe. But I take your point and it’s a good one. That some of yous guys are disgusted by toothpicks. I’ll keep that in mind in the future. > > In a long winded way I was explaining how I end up carrying a toothpick in the corner of my mouth for a bit of time. It was surprising and amusing for me to find out so many people are so deeply disturbed by the sight of a toothpick. I’m surprised by the depth of emotion it’s dredging up. But it beats some habits, like nose-picking. Or… my best friend puts a piece of gum in his mouth with the wrapper on. It must separate from the gum as he chews, because you can sometimes see the wrapper sticking out of his mouth, then he sucks it back in for another go-round… ``` ...::shudder:: ``` ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/32 "2020-03-30T23:19:02Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I’m surprised by the depth of emotion it’s dredging up. But it beats some habits, like nose-picking. > > Or… my best friend puts a piece of gum in his mouth with the wrapper on. It must separate from the gum as he chews, because you can sometimes see the wrapper sticking out of his mouth, then he sucks it back in for another go-round… > > ``` > ...::shudder:: > > ``` Oh, gums… I can rather stand someone with a toothpick in his mouth than one chewing gum while talking. (only exception: Jimi Hendrix) ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/33 "2020-03-30T23:38:46Z")
For a current example, check out Bokeem Woodbine chewing the scenery _and_ a toothpick in _Spenser Confidential_ on Netflix. Actually, don’t check it out. It’s absolute crap. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/34 "2020-03-30T23:53:39Z")
The Italian comedy movie _[Johnny Stecchino](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102164/)_ literally takes its title from the trope. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2020, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/35 "2020-03-31T00:15:19Z")
There is a guy on the current Survivor who always has a blade of grass sub for a toothpick. ---
**Author:** ![fedman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/278dde/32.png) [@fedman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/36 "2020-03-31T00:16:37Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Concurring with other posters – it’s very much a movie trope, particularly to signify a tough-guy character, but it’s an exceptionally uncommon thing to see someone doing so in real life today (and I’m not at all sure that it _ever_ was a common thing IRL). > > That said, in the 1970s and 1980s, the Kansas City Royals had a shortstop named U.L. Washington, who was known for always having a toothpick in his mouth, [including while batting.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ETKeresXsAElap2.jpg) Don’t forget Dusty Baker, who still does it ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2020, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/37 "2020-03-31T00:24:46Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > There is a guy on the current Survivor who always has a blade of grass sub for a toothpick. They replaced Lucky Luke’s cigarette with a blade of grass for modern sensibilities. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2020, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/38 "2020-03-31T01:02:58Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > TCM showed 1953’s _Crime Wave_ last night during the Noir Alley show, and anti-hero Sterling Hayden explained this explicitly. He said he’d had a cigarette habit that his doctor had convinced him would kill him, and he chewed on toothpicks as a substitute for the cigarettes. Host Eddie Muller during intro said director de Toth took away Hayden’s pack a day habit to ensure an extra level of grumpy hostility in his performance. Charles Buchinsky was pretty hostile too! A fun movie… ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2020, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/39 "2020-03-31T04:04:53Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > Host Eddie Muller during intro said director de Toth took away Hayden’s pack a day habit to ensure an extra level of grumpy hostility in his performance. I read this as a “pick a day habit”… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2020, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606/40 "2020-03-31T11:29:16Z")
I recently re-watched **American Graffiti**. Paul Le Mat’s character, John, sports a 'pick. mmm [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toothpick-in-the-mouth-a-cinema-trope/850606.md?page=3)