An article for the superstitious, curious and hyper-literate

Many superstitions are associated with teeth. Such an advanced field of medicine, but at the same time one of the most ancient, hence all the prejudices. We made a small selection of such superstitions and spiced them with a bit of common sense with a touch of humor. We hope you enjoy it.

Have you checked such superstitions?

• To avoid tooth pain, you need to get out of bed only with your left foot. Twice a year, you can get up with your right foot, but be sure to go for a preventive visit to the dentist.
• If teeth crumble during pregnancy, a boy will be born. Or a girl 🙂
• If the baby’s teeth are teething early, this means that the mother will soon have a second child. It is also worth getting your own pediatric dentist who will observe the child’s teeth.

“Dental beliefs” in different countries

It is interesting that in different countries there are different beliefs about teeth.

• In the post-Soviet space, in order for the teeth to grow healthy, the child is told to throw out the fallen milk tooth, saying: “Mouse, mouse, you have a milk tooth on you, and you give me a bone tooth.”
• In England, the gap between the front teeth, wide enough to allow a sovereign to be passed through it (an English, then a British gold coin), was considered an omen of fortune and wealth.

Stomatologists versus dentists!

• Do you know why stomatologists don’t like being called dentists in post-Soviet countries? A dentist is a specialist with a secondary education who graduated from a medical school and completed an internship under the guidance of a stomatologist.
• Interestingly, this does not apply to the English word “dentist”. In the countries of Europe and America, this is just the same doctor with a higher medical education.

P.S.: If you want to please your dentist, also use the words “cavity” instead of “hole” and ask the doctor to “remove” your tooth instead of “pull it out”.

It doesn’t matter to us whether you believe in omens or not, use the “correct” expressions or colloquial ones. The main thing is to take care of the health of your teeth.