VAMPIRE FANGS AND VIKING TEETH A BITE INTO DENTAL MODIFICATIONS THROUGH THE AGES
Over the years, I’ve had patients walk into the office and ask with total seriousness, “Can you give me fangs?” Whether it’s vampire teeth, cat- like canines, or even adding a sparkle with a gem, the desire to decorate or reshape teeth is nothing new. Humans have been modifying their smiles for thousands of years. From the ancient Mayans who inlaid gems into their teeth to Vikings creating designs in their grin to scare off enemies, teeth modifications have a long history. While today’s dental tools are more advanced, the fascination with tooth art remains. Let’s look at where this dental trend started. MAYAN MOLARS The ancient Mayans practiced intentional dental modifications as far back as 2,500 years ago. The most elite members of their society would have inlays of turquoise, gold, pyrite, and jadeite added to the front of their teeth to signify their wealth or status. Their culture also commonly
filed crosshatched grooves into the surface of teeth, filed teeth into sharp points, and made other alterations. VIKING DESIGNS Archaeologists have also discovered young Viking men had horizontal grooves filed into their teeth around 800 to 1050 CE/AD. Researchers believe the designs carved into their pearly whites might have marked their achievements or were meant to intimidate their enemies. The grooves might have been part of an initiation or used to identify them as part of a special group of Viking traders. JAPANESE OHAGURO Though it’s hard to imagine this as a thing of beauty today, Japanese women would blacken their teeth using vegetables or tea and a special solution to signify beauty and maturity and protect the teeth from decay. Ohaguro persisted for many centuries until 1870, when the Meiji government banned it.
TEETH SHARPENING Some of the earliest examples of teeth
modification date back 13,000 years in Africa. Many ancient tribes used teeth sharpening as a rite of passage and a mark of beauty. This practice also served as a way to mark which tribe people were a part of, and some used it to look more intimidating. Though we’ve been altering our teeth for thousands of years, before you go in for dental gems or fangs, remember that some modern adhesives can cause more harm than style.
Inspired by TheShortOrderCook.com
LEAH’S BAD DAD JOKES OF THE MONTH
Grilled Teriyaki Flank Steak
Ingredients Marinade • 2/3 cup red wine • 1/2 cup soy sauce or tamari
• 1/4 tsp black pepper • 1/4 tsp ginger powder • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Q: What do you call it when it snows on Halloween? A: Octo-brrrr. Q: Why do birds fly south in October? A: Because it is too far to walk. Q: What is a pumpkin’s favorite sport? A: Squash.
• 1/3 cup brown sugar • 1/4 cup sesame oil • 1 tbsp sesame seeds • 1 tsp minced garlic
Meat • 1 1/2 lbs flank steak
Directions 1. In a large bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients. 2. Place the flank steak in a large, rimmed dish. Pour the marinade over the meat. 3. Refrigerate and allow to marinate for 15 minutes. Flip and let marinate for another 15 minutes. 4. Preheat grill to 400 F. 5. Add the meat to the grill and cook for 3–5 minutes on each side. Leave the grill lid open to avoid overcooking. 6. For a medium-rare steak, remove from grill at 130 F internally, and for medium, remove at 140 F. 7. Let the meat rest on a cutting board for 5–10 minutes. Then, slice against the grain into thin pieces and enjoy! exceptionalsmiles.com
If you would like your favorite joke featured, email Office@exceptionalsmiles.com. You may see it in our next issue!
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