Toothless is the name of a little dragon in the kid’s movie, How To Train Your Dragon. Apparently, the character got this name because he had no teeth at the beginning of the story. Toothless, then, in this context, that of a dragon having no teeth, is a cute thing. Human beings, however, do not find the whole toothless concept an endearing one, especially not for adults within our species. The very idea of a mouth without any teeth is anathema to many of us. Do you know anyone who is toothless: have you ever asked them what it’s like to be totally toothless?
The History Of Those Without Teeth
Culturally, we usually associate those lacking teeth with extreme old age and/or poverty. Images of shapeless mouths and slack jaws beneath hairless craniums staring out at us from black and white photographs and old footage bespeak of our past. A past where these people were left to grow old without assistance from the state in the form of welfare. A past where ancient crones in their wrinkled glory smiled toothlessly at cameras aimed at them. A past where charitable dental relief was not on the menu for these elderly members of our communities. Dentures in the past were often only available for those who could afford them. And dental implants were the stuff of fantasy, much like the character Toothless: an impossible dream.
Human Culture & The Role Of Smiling Teeth
Teeth are a cultural norm in the human playbook. Something like the expectation of having hair atop your head, but baldness, although, a little out of the ordinary, is more often seen than the state of toothlessness. Displaying one’s teeth in a smile or grimace is a very human thing to do. Smiles open doors and hearts. Food court smiles, hopefully, open purses and wallets. Come hither and be assured of safe conduct by the smile upon my face. Those exposed teeth, the whiter and brighter the better, impart a timeless message of hospitality to the recipient. The toothless smile, however, is a horror show in slow motion for the young and beautiful among us.
What It Is Like To Be Toothless
Very few toothless people smile a lot. Even those with more remaining teeth than gummy gaps are reticent about smiling in public. Dentists know this, of course, and for some it was one of the reasons they went into dentistry in the first place. Curing the toothless among us is no mean foundational quest. Toothless: What’s it truly like to be totally toothless? The act of eating is a far more limited activity when one is without teeth. What you can eat is profoundly reduced in scope. Soups and soft foods are invariably on the menu for the remainder of one’s years. A lot more sucking than any real chewing is the upshot of the toothless state. The tongue spends more idle time sensing the blank spaces within one’s mouth, where formerly teeth used to reside. The partitions have come down and your tongue can roam far and wide within the confines of your oral cavity. It is a brave new world inside the mouth of the toothless.
The Psychology of Toothless-Ness
Teeth represent vigour and spunk to human beings, as they probably do to our great ape cousins. To be able to bite into something is a powerful sensation and it produces hormones and neurotransmitters like adrenaline and endorphins within us. Hunger can spark stress, which releases epinephrine and cortisol. Our appetite for love, sex, and food is full of endorphins, especially when satiated. Dopamine is another neurotransmitter released when we eat delicious foods and which makes us feel good.
Dreaming Of Toothless-Ness
Hands up if you have had the dream or nightmare where all your teeth fall out? I have experienced this very real feeling dream multiple times and it is a frightening time.
The Dragon Crone
Toothless the dragon does get teeth as he too grows older in the story. The crone, however, does not receive a further set of natural teeth. She or he (interestingly there is no male equivalent of crone) must make do with the space created or turn to artificial teeth for succour. Dentures have been around for some time, with the Etruscans employing them as far back as 700 BCE. Most civilisations have had a go at manufacturing false teeth out of some sort of appropriate material, invariably for the rich and powerful within their kingdom or tribe. Ivory was popular, but probably not with elephants. Hardened rubber or vulcanite was the new black in the 19C. Gold was used for the very wealthy wishing to make a statement. Resins and plastics have been in vogue through the 20C and into the 21C. You can now get permanently screwed in dentures in addition to portable false teeth.
The Meaning Of Toothless-Ness
Dreams of toothlessness are not pleasant. The reality of being toothless is, perhaps, far from ideal, but like all things – it is what it is. Dentists can help if you find yourself in this state. Totally toothless – sounds like the musical version of a kid’s movie! Perhaps, a cute dragon is our best way to comprehend such an unacceptable state for the vigorous among us. Beautiful white teeth are highly valued cosmetically within our culture and I cannot see toothlessness catching on anytime soon. Can you?
Sure Dental is a dental practice in Wavell Heights, caring for patients across Brisbane’s northside.
