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Ohaguro in Japan (250 AD — 1870)
The color black has always been considered beautiful in Japan and that’s why women used to dye their teeth black. Married women were obligated to dye their teeth right after their marriage. Iron fillings were inserted into a cup of tea until the iron oxidized and the tea would turn black. Then, some spices were added to cover the strong smell and women would drink this often to keep their teeth black. It is said that this practice was actually beneficial for their dental health. This custom lasted for thousands of years until it faded at the end of the 19th century.
