Old-fashioned hygiene habits that are anything but clean

Rotten Teeth Were Seen as a Sign of Nobility

These days, healthy, white teeth are considered the epitome of good hygiene. But in the 16th century, black or rotten teeth were a fashion trend – they signaled that you could afford sugar. Sugar was an expensive luxury item back then, and its consumption was a status symbol.

Queen Elizabeth I was known for her badly damaged teeth, and people of lower classes even darkened their teeth to imitate her look. A bizarre twist on beauty ideals – and another example of how far people went for social status.