RAAP—057
MILDEF TARANTULA
Once prevalent throughout Vietnam, the practice of tooth blackening—răng nhuộm đen—represented a culturally significant aesthetic and social custom among numerous ethnic communities. Utilizing natural dyes derived from plant-based substances, individuals stained their teeth black as a marker of maturity, refinement, and social standing.
In addition to its symbolic and aesthetic value, tooth blackening was also believed to offer protective benefits against dental decay and to demarcate the boundary between the human and spiritual realms. Although the tradition has largely disappeared in contemporary society, it endures as an important element in the historical and cultural fabric of Vietnam.
In addition to its symbolic and aesthetic value, tooth blackening was also believed to offer protective benefits against dental decay and to demarcate the boundary between the human and spiritual realms. Although the tradition has largely disappeared in contemporary society, it endures as an important element in the historical and cultural fabric of Vietnam.