Outdated hygiene practices that are anything but clean

Rotten Teeth Were a Symbol of Nobility

These days, white and healthy teeth are a sign of good hygiene. But in the 16th century, blackened or rotten teeth were all the rage—because they showed you could afford to consume sugar. Back then, sugar was an expensive luxury, and indulging in it was a status symbol.

Queen Elizabeth I was notorious for her decayed teeth, and folks from the lower classes would even darken their own to mimic her look. A bizarre reversal of beauty standards that shows just how far people will go to look like they’re part of the elite.