I’ve learnt that Colombians (or Bogotanos?) are obsessed with teeth hygiene. Or might it just be me who has under average oral hygiene? I don’t mind making a confession here on a private personal habit. I brush my teeth twice a day, and on special occasions, 3 times a day.. If I think about my experience from the past, I never came across such a coherent habit that’s shared among so many! Or maybe it’s a new habit across the rest of the world that I just haven’t caught up with? (Please tell me the truth!)

I have been observing this for a while. As mentioned before, because of the nature of my job, I go to different companies at different times of the day. I can tell you this phenomenon is at least city-wide and not just unique to any specific company that may have been churning out smelly food in their canteen.. Everyone, male or female, old or young, has their oral hygiene gear sitting quietly in their desk drawers. And their wash bags are so well equipped – with floss, mouthwash and all. As far as I know, everyone, without fail, goes to brush their teeth after lunch! It is a given. No joke – it looks like a teeth-brushing party in the toilets. If you pop in to any toilet between 1.30-2.30pm you will hear the swooshing sound of a gang frantically brushing or rinsing away, not feeling odd engaging in a private hygiene ritual in front of their colleagues. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. It is a public display of pride. Actually you want people to see you do it! It’s the way to show that you’re proper and polite, that you respect others, that you have a minimum sense of decency.. 😮

The pressure of en masse is so powerful that now I also have my toothbrush & toothpaste with me everyday. I’ve got my toothbrush but not my foundation. What does that say about me? Though I still haven’t got to the mouthwash level yet.