Human tooth sharpening

Many remojadas figurines found in parts of Mexico have filed teeth and it is believed to have been common practice in their culture.

The Zappo Zap people of the Democratic Republic of Congo are believed to have filed their teeth.

Historically it was done for spiritual purposes, with some exceptions, but in modern times it is usually aesthetic in nature as a form of body modification.

[3] In ancient China, a group called Ta-ya Kih-lau (打牙仡佬, literally "仡佬 (Gelao people) who beat out their teeth") had every woman about to wed knock out two of her anterior teeth to "prevent damage to the husband's family.

[7] David Livingstone mentioned a number of African tribes who practiced teeth-filing, including the Bemba, Yao, Makonde, Matambwe, Mboghwa and Chipeta.

[9] Koesbardiati, Toetik mentions Indonesian tribes that practice human teeth sharpening in the prehistoric and Islamic populations of Indonesia.

[11] Human teeth sharpening also continued to occur during the 17th century but this was mostly practiced by those in nobility or those with social prominence.