North West Painted Her Teeth Black - Here's Where The Look Actually Comes From

"In the midst of veneer culture, a very different look is circulating on the fringes of Gen Z: jet-black teeth. The latest to debut the style? None other than North West, whose recent TikTok - featuring a blacked-out smile and fake face tattoos - sparked a swirl of fascination online. But what many of viewers of her video might not realize is that teeth blackening is a centuries-old tradition now finding new resonance among young people interested in aesthetic experimentation, particularly within the "Opium" subculture."

"Long before whitening strips, the practice of blackening one's teeth was a beauty trend across Asia. In Japan, for example, (meaning "black teeth") involved soaking iron fillings in vinegar with sake or tea and drinking the resulting liquid to color the teeth - a ritual that was especially popular among women of the aristocracy from the 10th century onward. The inky sheen contrasted with their white-powdered faces (another hallmark of Heian- and Edo-period beauty), symbolizing a young woman's elegance, coming of age, and maturity."

"The iron-based coating wasn't purely aesthetic. It acted as a natural sealant against tooth decay. The custom persisted until 1870, when Western influence - and the Meiji government's push to "modernize" Japan - reframed white teeth as the new ideal. But teeth blackening wasn't limited to Japan. The broader concept appeared in Vietnam, China, and other regions of Southeast Asia, where a black smile represented not just beauty, but spiritual protection."

Jet-black teeth have reemerged as an aesthetic choice among some Gen Z individuals, showcased in viral posts such as North West's TikTok featuring a blacked-out smile and fake face tattoos. Teeth blackening originated across Asia as a beauty and protective practice. In Japan, a method involving iron fillings soaked in vinegar and sake produced a black sheen that contrasted with white-powdered faces and signaled elegance and maturity. The iron coating also helped prevent decay. The practice declined after 1870 as Western ideals prized white teeth. Variants persisted in Vietnam, China, and Southeast Asia, where darkened teeth also conveyed spiritual protection.

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