Folklore of the Teeth. This item is unavailable.Folklore of the Teeth

"Folklore of the Teeth" is an expansive and scholarly exploration of the myths, legends, and cultural traditions surrounding human dentition across different civilizations and eras. Leo Kanner provides a detailed account of how various societies have interpreted the biological reality of teeth through the lens of superstition, religion, and folk medicine.

The work delves into a wide array of fascinating topics, including the legendary "tooth worm" believed to cause decay, the diverse rituals associated with the loss of primary teeth, and the myriad of folk remedies used to alleviate toothaches before the rise of modern dental science. Kanner catalogs global customs ranging from tooth decoration and mutilation to the symbolic significance of the first tooth. By examining the intersection of dentistry and folklore, the book reveals the deep-seated human anxieties and creative solutions surrounding oral health.

This text serves as a vital resource for anthropologists, medical historians, and anyone interested in the social history of medicine. It highlights the transition from mystical interpretations of the body to empirical observation while preserving the rich narrative heritage of dental practices worldwide.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.