Ancient people in Taiwan yanked healthy teeth from their mouths for 'aesthetic expression' and 'tests of courage,' study finds

Archaeologists now have a better understanding of why ritual tooth removal was practiced in ancient Taiwan and other parts of Asia — and it wasn't because people had bad teeth.

While tooth ablation has been documented among groups worldwide, it was most commonly associated with the first Austronesian communities, which included people in Taiwan, Southeast Asia and Polynesia. The procedure was first introduced in this area about 4,800 years ago, during the Neolithic period, and continued until the early 20th century, according to a study published in the December 2024 issue of the journal Archaeological Research in Asia. 

It involved the pulling of otherwise-healthy teeth, including the incisors and canines, without the use of anesthesia. Afterward, the cavities would be filled with ash to inhibit bleeding and inflammation. 

After gathering data from more than 250 archaeological sites across Asia, researchers found that 47 contained burials from the Neolithic (4,800 to 2,400 years ago) to the Iron Age (2,400 to 400 years ago) in which the deceased had missing teeth. The practice was equally spread across males and females. However, by the 1900s, it was more common among the latter group. And it wasn't just adults who had dental work; children got it, too.

The main reason people underwent this procedure was cosmetic — for "aesthetic expression," the researchers said. They determined this based on examples given in historical literature and more modern documentation. 

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"The first and most frequently mentioned motivation was beautification, arising from a desire to distinguish oneself from the facial features of animals, as well as to enhance personal attractiveness, in particular to the opposite sex," the authors wrote in the study. "An interesting testimony underscored the pursuit of the sight of a crimson tongue peeking through the gap of bright teeth."