On Sharing of Toothbrush: Ultimate Expression of a Couple’s Comfort Level?
Summary
Couples do share many personal items that include clothes, foot wears, kitchen utensils, mobile phones and even social media accounts. Among the personal stuff, though, toothbrush seems to be the most difficult item to share. Hence, those partners who are able to share a toothbrush may be considered as the most intimate – if not, the most comfortable with one another.
My first inkling was to simply use ‘Toothbrush Intimacy’ as this blog’s main title
The notion came when I just fancied to do a selfie (see Figure 1) before brushing my teeth from too much eating on Christmas evening for this year 2022! What simultaneously flashed in my mind was the toothbrush story of the late Benjamin ‘Ben’ Gaon (God rest his soul), our executive director during my first job in Palawan Province, the Philippines.
Accordingly, he once accompanied his boss, who was the designated keynote speaker, to attend a conference. After a meal of fish, his boss was in a hurry for his speaking engagement. Unfortunately, he forgot to bring along his toothbrush.
In exasperation, Ben Gaon’s boss borrowed (a request he cannot refuse, anyway) his toothbrush, simply soaked it in a glass of hot water, and then awkwardly brushed his teeth using it. His boss’ words: “Ben, I am terribly sorry to use your toothbrush but I simply cannot speak in that podium without first brushing my teeth!” That was a humorous story of being forced – or compelled upon – to share a toothbrush with a work supervisor. Although peculiar, that event happened largely in a workplace setting.
Couples – on the other hand – do share many personal stuff and/or implements. In this context, I generically refer to couples as two lovers or two individuals who are in a consensual relationship: (1) male and female, (2) male and male, and (3), female and female. Such a union could be categorized as legally married couples, partners who are in a de facto relationship – or even two persons who are simply engaged in an illicit affair!
At various times in the past, I have interviewed some close family members, friends and colleagues about the personal stuff that they share with their partners. Among the most common items that the couples share include clothes, foot wears, kitchen utensils, mobile phones and even social media accounts. Sharing plates is one other practice that is quite common to couples. A female couple allowed me to take a photo of themselves while eating bare-handled (see Figure 1) as long as they remain anonymous. Meanwhile, there were a few who candidly admitted cross-dressing.
Nonetheless, whenever I asked if they have ever shared a toothbrush, the overwhelming majority of responses were negative. Others were simply bewildered as if I was a devil incarnate asking them a totally stupid, if not an utterly reprehensible question! A few just gave me a blank stare – and refused to answer at all. Even long-term (beyond 15 years) married couples have never shared a toothbrush – not even once.
Here comes an array of intricately-linked intriguing questions. Is there something wrong with sharing a toothbrush with your better half? Is it an activity that is medically unhygienic? Or is this toothbrush-sharing act more reflective of the degree of intimacy between partners – if not a higher degree of comfort level with each other?
I tend to agree with the last interrogative statement. For lack of a better term, I shall call this as ‘toothbrush intimacy’. To make this blog more participative, I enjoin you to call on your respective partners and voluntarily undertake these three sequential activities. First, you eat together with fish (other seafoods will do as substitute) as the main dish. Eat leisurely and savor the food. No need to hurry.
Secondly, after partaking the meal, kiss each other. I mean French kiss – with utmost desire and passion. As aptly described in the literature, French kiss is tongue-to-tongue.
Thirdly, brush your teeth using only one toothbrush. That is, one after the other. This is gonna be your final and concluding act.
Your response – using a forced-choice method – could be any of the following options: Option 1 – Eat only; Option 2 – Kiss after meal; and Option 3 – Toothbrush sharing.
Option 1 means you will only eat intimately with your partner. Then, you won’t do anything else after that. Option 2 necessitates that you will do a French kiss with your partner after eating fish or any seafood substitute. Do the act as if this is the very first romantic moment of your relationship. Option 3 requires toothbrush sharing after a passionate French kissing. Simply told, you’ll use a single toothbrush, one after the other.
I look forward to counting the number of people who will happily oblige until the third activity. They may even claim that what they have experienced – albeit not necessarily heavenly – may be described as the ultimate lovers’ connection. See Figure 3 as an illustrative representation.
I do hope that you can make a reply after reading this blog so I can make a tabulation. Then, I shall provide the summary statistics for sharing to my website readers. Let the lovers’ game begin!
Copyright © 2023 by Michael D Pido
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Option 1 (Eat only). When you get to your 60’s, intimacy seems to be less and less 😀. When it comes to toothbrush sharing, it will be a big NO.
Thanks for sharing you Option 1 Sir Leandro. The counting of responses is getting interesting. Will keep you posted.
First time I became aware of sharing toothbrushes between two people. 1. From my experience, in the absence of mouthwash, some use toothpaste to rub on teeth and gums, then gurgle. 2. Between married couples, sharing a toothbrush may not be the best form of intimacy. In French kissing, better to do the real thing. Only brush your teeth or use mouthwash before proceeding.
Hi Sir Alex – You would be surprised that there are few (not many) couples who do share toothbrush. Those who admitted to me are in fact close female friends and/or colleagues!
I cannot, in any way, agree with the toothbrush intimacy. Hahaha. That’s like a “taboo” thing for a typically hygienic person, to say the least. Therefore, I cannot happily obliged myself doing it. That thought of it makes me 🤢. 🤣😛
Hi Amie – You belong to the majority group who thinks toothbrush sharing is yukky! Please note that there are a few who still think that it’s either fine, if not an intimate act. Cheers!