Pearly white teeth may be the norm for beauty in the U.S.; however, members of the Lu tribe in Vietnam believe that only savages, demons, and wild animals have white teeth, so they go for a darker look.
Made from tree resins, residue from sticky coconut husks and iron nail filings, the use of this tooth lacquer is most common among women as a rite of passage.
According to CNN, the practice is thought to prevent tooth decay, similarly to modern dental sealants while also enhancing s*x appeal. Teeth blackening was most predominantly practiced in Southeast Asian and Oceanic cultures, particularly among Austronesian, Austroasiatic, and Kra-Dai-speaking peoples. It was also practiced in Japan prior to the Meiji era, as well as in India.
They also performed it among some groups in the Americas, most notably among the Shuar people of northern Peru and Ecuador. They usually do teeth blackening during puberty.
It was primarily done to preserve the teeth into old age, as it prevents tooth decay similar to the mechanism of modern dental sealants. It was seen as a sign of maturity, beauty, and of civilization. A common belief is that blackened teeth differentiated humans from animals.
They often do teeth blackening with traditions of teeth filing and revulsion, as well as other body modification customs like tattoos. They regarded teeth blackening and filing with fascination and disapproval by early European explorers and colonists.
The practice survives in some isolated ethnic groups in Southeast Asia and Oceania but has mostly disappeared after introducing Western beauty standards during the colonial era. Teeth blackening is commonly confused with the red-stained teeth from betel chewing.
However, betel chewing damages the teeth and gums while teeth blackening does not. As with most Asian traditions, there are long-standing cultural reasons for tooth blackening. It was believed that only savages, wild animals, and demons had long white teeth.
The filing and blackening of the teeth was also a popular procedure and assurance that one would not be mistaken for an evil spirit. In Japan, tooth blackening was known as Ohagura.
It was believed to enhance s*x appeal besides maintaining healthy teeth. Linking tooth blackening to a prolonged set of teeth is not just a belief; studies have shown that those with blackened teeth maintain a full set of teeth for longer than those without lacquered teeth.
Tribes from Indonesia and the Philippines also performed similar procedures of tooth blackening and filing. Back in 1938, a French survey found 80% of the countryside folk of Vietnam had blackened teeth.
Medieval kings of Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries also blackened their teeth. The procedure has been popular throughout Asian history.
But when the French came to Vietnam, they did not appreciate the implied beauty, and they discouraged the procedure. Since then the numbers of Vietnamese dropped drastically, but in these modern times, the traditional people of Vietnam are once again trying to revive an almost lost tradition.
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