DEAR ABBY: What is proper when you're talking with someone and you notice the person has food stuck in his or her teeth? What if the person is part of a group and someone you don't know very well? -- TOOTHFUL IN FLORIDA
DEAR TOOTHFUL: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If you were in the other person's place, wouldn't you want to be told?
Even if you know the person only casually, try to ease him or her away from the group and say, "I know we don't know each other very well, but I thought you should know you have something in your teeth. It's happened to me, and I thought you'd like to know, too."
Consider it a charitable act. The person will: First, be embarrassed; second, be grateful.