Metal Mouth Message Board

I was at my gym the other day, and thought I'd relax in the steam room for a few minutes. This other woman came in, lay down, and proceeded to begin flossing her teeth! In the steam room! Naked!

I told her that while flossing is great idea at the sink, but doing it in a public steam room is not hygienic and spreads bacteria. She got very offended. All I could think was "Gross -- lady, what's wrong with you?!"

What would you have done? Would you have said something? I've seen her do this before and held my tongue. This time, I couldn't stand it and had to say something.

I find that public saunas/steam rooms are much more relaxing when people ask before they proceed. For example, when I visit my inlaws in SF I go to a wonderful bath house in the Mission and the the women there are very considerate. They ask if they can add oil to the steamer, brush their hair, etc. It's really a place where you are at your most vulnerable (naked) and people who use public saunas/steam rooms should remember that it is communal. So, I agree that she should have asked. I don't know however if flossing your teeth poses a public health hazard. It would make sense that the bacteria could thrive in a warm and humid environment but unless you have open wounds, I don't know how the bacteria would enter another person's body.

Its just icky and shouldn't be done in public. Ew. I don't care how relaxed you are, i don't want your mouth junk flicking all over the room. I use a hand held mirror to floss my teeth, after two times i notice the mirror has specks all over it. I assume those specks are spit and plaque. Again EW.

I would not have said anything. But i'm not confrontational at all and can pretty much tolerate anything.

It doesn't seem that gross to me... just a little strange to be doing it in the steam room infront of people and not in the bathroom infront of a mirror.

If she was flicking floss particles into my face... then that would be a little disturbing!

It was my "Larry David Moment of the Day." LOL

Next time sit above her and start cutting your toenails, see what she has to say about that.

Frankly, I wouldn't even breathe through my mouth in a steam room with other people in it. I'm with you on the gross side.

Lynette wrote:If she was flicking floss particles into my face... then that would be a little disturbing!

That made me literally LOL!


If it was me, I would have probably thought it was odd... but I probably wouldn't have said anything. Now if it had happened while I had PMT (or PMS, whatever you wanna call it) then I most like would have said something

Eeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!

bbsadmin wrote:It was my "Larry David Moment of the Day." LOL

OMG, i love that show and this is totally something that would happen to him. Very funny.

Yup I'm sorry I would be just like you Lynn and open my mouth... That is jusgt disturbing in a public place like that.

Well, like I said, I've seen her do it before. I just couldn't stand it anymore!

bbsadmin wrote:It was my "Larry David Moment of the Day." LOL

I have those on the daily!

Thats so gross. ek, I hate flossing, not too interested seeing others doing the same.

That is really gross! Kudos to you for saying something. I would not have had the nerve to do that.

I have seen people floss on the subway talk about gross