Al-Kāfi - The Book of Food

Chapter: Throwing away what Comes out with Toothpicks from Between the Teeth عَنْهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْفَضْلِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ يُونُسَ قَالَ تَغَدَّى عِنْدِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ( عليه السلا٠ِ أُتِيَ بِالْخِلَالِ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ ٠َا حَدُّ هَذَا الْخِلَالِ فَقَالَ يَا فَضْلُ كُلُّ ٠َا أَدَرْتَ عَلَيْهِ لِسَانَكَ فَكُلْهُ وَ ٠َا اسْتَكَنَّ فَأَخْرِجْهُ بِالْخِلَالِ فَأَنْتَ فِيهِ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شِئْتَ أَكَلْتَهُ وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ طَرَحْتَهُ.

When lunch was complete, toothpicks were brought and I asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, what are the limits of toothpicks?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O Fadl, whatever remains in your mouth when you turn your tongue on it you can eat it; but whatever does not come out with the tongue, then take it out with a toothpick; and you have the choice to eat or throw it away.’” وثق - Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi (Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (2/225))