RAAP—056
RĂNG NHUỘM ĐEN
Tooth blackening, known in Vietnamese as răng nhuộm đen, was once common across Vietnam and practiced by many communities, including lowland Kinh and numerous highland ethnic groups. Using plant-based preparations, often combining tannin-rich leaves or bark with iron-containing or mineral additives, people stained their teeth to a glossy black.
The practice signified adulthood, self-discipline, and beauty, and in many regions it was closely tied to ideals of proper femininity and social respectability, marking the transition from youth to marriageability. Beyond aesthetics, the lacquer-like coating was widely believed to protect against decay and strengthen the teeth. In some interpretations, darkened teeth also distinguished humans from spirits or animals.
Although răng nhuộm đen has largely disappeared under the influence of Western dental norms and changing beauty standards in the twentieth century, it remains a key reference point in Vietnamese social history, revealing past notions of refinement, maturity, and the cultivated body.
The practice signified adulthood, self-discipline, and beauty, and in many regions it was closely tied to ideals of proper femininity and social respectability, marking the transition from youth to marriageability. Beyond aesthetics, the lacquer-like coating was widely believed to protect against decay and strengthen the teeth. In some interpretations, darkened teeth also distinguished humans from spirits or animals.
Although răng nhuộm đen has largely disappeared under the influence of Western dental norms and changing beauty standards in the twentieth century, it remains a key reference point in Vietnamese social history, revealing past notions of refinement, maturity, and the cultivated body.