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Step 1
Obtain a toothpick after eating a meal to remove bits of food stuck between your teeth. If you are in a restaurant, toothpicks can be found near the cash register. If you're not in a restaurant, purchase them at the grocery store.
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Step 2
Go to a private area, such as a restroom. Some cultures don't consider it bad manners to use a toothpick in public, but in most Western countries it is considered bad etiquette.
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Step 3
Grasp the toothpick firmly near one end and between your thumb and index finger. Place the pointed end of the toothpick near the gum between the teeth which contains the bit of food you wish to remove.
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Step 4
Push slightly in underneath the bit of food you wish to dislodge and push up if it's the lower teeth or down if it's the upper teeth. The food should dislodge either onto your toothpick or in your mouth. If it's in your mouth, you can swallow it. If it's on the toothpick, wipe it off with a tissue or napkin before you continue.
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Step 5
Dislodge any additional bits of food with the toothpick. At this point you may have some stray bits of food in your mouth. Rather than swallowing them, you may want to swish some water in your mouth and spit it into a sink, if available. If a sink isn't available, you should swallow it.
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Step 6
Use dental floss, if possible, to remove any stubborn bits of food that couldn't be dislodged with the toothpick. Sometimes swishing your mouth vigorously with water will dislodge them.
