I have often thought about bringing a toothbrush with me to brush my teeth after dinner at a restaurant, but I never went through with it. Instead, I settle for a good hard rinse at the restroom sink. Then I run the water to clean the sink.

Doug, just think of the entertainment value of seeing that woman brushing her teeth, and there was no extra charge, I hope. It could have been worse:

Remember when Pee Wee Herman was caught "doing his thing" in a movie theater?

And Fred Willard was caught with his pants down in a movie theater.

:yuck:

The only thing as disgusting that I have ever seen was a man with a 25" piece of dental floss, flossing his teeth at a table in a Wendy's. His wife (I assume) was sitting across from him and every time I looked at him, he put his hands under the table (yeah -- as if I didn't know what he was doing!). Can you imagine sitting across from him with bits of food flinging in your face from across the table??? Yuk!

What a "gross" exaggeration. I believe it was more like 24"!

Now, that beats the guy wearing a hat in restaurant!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

Brushing teeth in a public bathroom is a common practice for many people.
Actually sinks are a cesspool of germs no matter what you're washing.

Good Grief!
Why do they have sinks in public restrooms in the first place? I presume it's for people to wash their hands. And what have these people likely been doing prior to washing their hands?
So why is brushing teeth in a public restroom considered disgusting, and hand washing is not?
Is not the purpose of hand washing to remove potential debris from that previous unmentionable activity? And wouldn't any such residual debris then go into the sink?

Huh? What's wrong with that? I've brushed my teeth in a public restroom many times and seen others doing the same. You're lucky you didn't get more than a dirty look.

I suspect it was a product like the Colgate Wisp. The tag line is: "Just brushed clean, anytime, anywhere".

WISP: Disposable Toothbrushes, Mini Traveling Toothbrush, Whiten Teeth | Wisp Whitening, Cool Mint | Colgate®

Obviously there is some disagreement about where anywhere is ...

Some of the posts I'm reading here are the reasons I'm reluctant to eat anywhere but my own home. For those of us who wear dentures, it's difficult to eat some foods because they stick to our "teeth". For example, rolls. Yes, just a simple dinner roll sticks all over my teeth. I no longer eat them when I'm out but since I'm relatively new to dentures, I'm not sure what else will stick so sometimes I'm totally surprised when a certain food does.

Although I am not disabled and should not be using the handicapped bathroom, that is the only place I feel comfortable brushing my teeth. Sometimes I need to take them completely out because some foods even get caught under them and then they hurt. I mean, really hurt.

My dilemma is...do I never go out to eat again with family and/or friends or do I head to the bathroom to brush my "teeth" afterwards (and sometimes during) my dinner out? And what do I do when there is no handicap stall with a sink?

The disgust of some posters with people who brush their teeth in public bathrooms indicates I should stay home and never go out again because it's not acceptable. I only hope that most of you never have to go through what I, sometimes, go through just to eat out with family and/or friends. It's not easy and I'm still learning with these new teeth of mine.

Please don't judge unless you walk in someone else's shoes. I'm sitting here thinking what a rude, inconsiderate, gross person some of you think I am for brushing my "teeth" in the bathroom (sometimes in the regular public bathroom sink). If you happen to see me, please just smile because I'm embarrassed with what I'm having to do and hoping you'll be understanding.

My grin and bear it moment was when we were at Perkins Restaurant some time ago and a couple took out their blood testing kits and both of them tested their blood right their at their dining table, in sight of anyone who could see. Hope we don't have to start bringing medical latex gloves when we go out to eat! :ohdear:

By uncomfortable I don't know if you mean lack of privacy or bacteria on the sink, but something you should be aware of is that airborne bacteria from a flushing toilet can reach a sink that's within six to eight feet of the toilet. So if it is bacteria you're concerned with, I would think that sinks away from the toilets are safer than sinks enclosed within a handicapped stall.

Exposed Toothbrushes Risk Contamination from Flushed Toilets

I think she means because no one can see her in the stall like they would if she was at the sinks where everyone is.

Just my opinion. More than a dirty look? Is that how you handle things? AH!

Actually, only ONE out of all the posts have stated a dislike for brushing in a public washroom. I didn't notice how many posts it's up to, but that's a lot of support for doing what you need to do!! Go for it, and enjoy yourself. You deserve a good time out as much as anyone. We all have our issues to deal with, as we age, and sometimes you just gotta do whatcha gotta do!!