# What, exactly, is "Toe Jam"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-toe-jam/30790>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 26, 2000, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-toe-jam/30790 "2000-08-26T02:33:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2000, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-toe-jam/30790/1 "2000-08-26T02:33:13Z")

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No, it’s _not_ a vigorous ballet. 😉  
So what is that stinky stuff that accumulates under most everyone’s toenails? At least most everyone I’ve known.  
I shower every day, sometimes twice, and I pay particulat attention to my feet. But I can always dig out a little of it. Can’t resist a sniff, I’ll admit.  
It doesn’t grow under our fingernails.  
So, seriously now, do any of the great minds of the SDMB know?  
Extra point for those who suck their partners toes;  
Doesn’t toe jam gross you out? I mean, you’re _eating_ it!  
I can’t believe I beat **aha** to this one. 😃  
Peace,  
mangeorge

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**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2000, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-toe-jam/30790/2 "2000-08-26T02:35:21Z")

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My WAG - mostly sweat ‘n’ sock lint. Thank you for helping me forget my hunger.

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**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2000, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-toe-jam/30790/3 "2000-08-26T02:44:21Z")

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some of it is dead skin cells from under your nail. Fingernails have this too, but are not cooped up in socks and shoes so they don’t get so funky.

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2000, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-toe-jam/30790/4 "2000-08-26T08:20:31Z")

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The stuff that collects under the toenails: I have always heard it referred to as **toe cheese** , not toe jam. See [The cheese that you don’t buy in stores](http://www.futureone.com/~sponge/humor/ToeCheese.html)

The stuff that collects between the toes: Cecil claims this is called toe jam. See [What is “toejam,” as in “toejam football”?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_260a.html)