apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I always say something like "I would want to be told!" and then quickly tell them and give them a chance to get rid of it.

I once had a girl come up behind me, tap me on the shoulder and tell me I had TP on my shoe. She said she would want to be told, too. I thanked her and after a moment of grateful emberassment went on with my day. Years later I'm remembering her kindness. So yeah, tell people these things.

I usually do the teeth tapping thing if it's friends or family and a quick "Excuse me, you have something in your teeth" and distract others if it's not.

I always just casually mention it in conversation and then just move forward. That way everyone has acknowledged it, and if you make the person feel as though it's normal and nothing to be embarrassed about (whispering, hand signals), then they won't feel embarrassed. It's really not a showstopper, so don't treat it like one.

I just ask the person with the black pepper/bit of corn/leftover lunch in their teeth, "hey, is there something in my teeth?"

Ninety-nine percent of the time, they'll say, "No, what about me?" And there's your opening, and no one's the wiser.

I once walked out of a dressing room with my dress tucked into my underwear. A bit more obvious that something in my teeth, but I'm glad a lady who worked there was brave enought to tell me!
Of course I would want to know if I have something in my teeth. Its best to bring it up as though its not funny at all.

I've never understood why this was an etiquette issue. I mean, I wouldn't exactly announce it to my boss during, say, a meeting, but I would not hesitate to tell her if I noticed. After all, I'd appreciate the same.

I think that I do not have good manners because whenever anyone tells me I laugh about it and am not embarrassed. I've never met anyone who it hasn't happened to before so it's not a big deal...more of a hazard of eating.

In a department store a lady came up close to me and said in a conspiratorial whisper "XYZ." I nodded in agreement, hiding my bewilderment, and sidled away only to be followed and have the cryptic message delivered a few more times. Finally she said in exasperation "examine your zipper!" Then I sheepishly thanked her.