Psst, there's some gunk in your smile.

• Author: Galanes, Philip
• Position: SOCIAL Q'S - Brief article

My high school teacher and I disagree about whether it's more polite to point out those pieces of spinach that get caught in people's teeth or keep quiet about them. I favor telling; he doesn't. You?--Emily, New York

IT'S RARELY WISE to comment on the appearance of folks we don't know well, even to give compliments. For every three people who welcome a random assessment of their sweater, another will find it intrusive. And there's no way of knowing in advance. But when it comes to teeth...