Outdated hygiene practices that are far from clean

Rotten Teeth Were a Sign of Nobility

These days, white and healthy teeth are associated with good hygiene. But in the 16th century, blackened or decayed teeth were fashionable—because they proved you could afford to consume sugar. Back then, sugar was a luxury item, and eating it was a sign of wealth.

Queen Elizabeth I was known for her severely damaged teeth, and people from lower classes would even blacken their own to mimic her appearance. A strange inversion of beauty standards, showing how far some would go to appear aristocratic.