Is Tooth Brushing at Work Gross?

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Spit Take

Dear Work Friend:

I work in a small library. My co-worker has braces and after eating, she brushes and flosses using the sink in the break room. I find this gross. Several months went by before she realized her toothpaste was flicking off her electric brush all around the sink. She seems more mindful about cleaning up after herself now, but I still think this is gross. There are four single, all-gender restrooms in our library, but she doesn’t seem to want to use them. There is also a sink in the lactation room, which I mentioned to her, but she doesn’t seem to use that either. I find this co-worker annoying in general, and I realize this might be why I find her brushing in the open so foul.

— K.E.

I am of the strong opinion that mouths and teeth, in professional contexts, should remain inconspicuous and unobtrusive, outside of their necessary deployment for communication. In public workplaces, people should endeavor to avoid kissing, spitting, lip-smacking, whistling, humming, gargling, sloshing, tongue-clicking and, yes, brushing or flossing, for the sake of professionalism, cleanliness, tranquillity and concentration.

This is, to be clear, a personal opinion, not a medical or scientific one. The truth is that there isn’t anything deeply unhygienic or unsanitary about what your co-worker is doing. Her mouth bacteria aren’t going to survive long on a dry surface, especially when weakened by the antimicrobials found in most toothpastes. Provided her foam-spit isn’t landing in anyone’s food, brushing in the break room is arguably even more sanitary (for her) than brushing in a bathroom, where aerosolized waste particles might alight on her toothbrush.

Should we all be flossing at the break room sink? Well, no: See, again, my rule about mouths above. But our shared opinion about public flossing is rooted in cultural preferences, rather than any measurable effect on hygiene or health, and as such you owe your co-worker some grace and patience. She obviously doesn’t know it’s repellent — which means you may have to be the one to tell her.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/02/business/flossing-brushing-work-gross.html