hammaskiilleen
Hammaskiilleen, also known as "hammasliina" or "hammasväri," refers to the traditional Finnish practice of using natural, plant-based dyes to color teeth. This custom was particularly common among the Sámi people, an Indigenous group in northern Scandinavia, including parts of Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Russia. The practice was believed to have both cultural and practical significance.
The dyes used in hammaskiilleen were typically derived from plants such as birch bark, rowan berries, or
Historically, hammaskiilleen was not widely practiced outside Indigenous communities, and its use declined as Western dental
The practice should not be confused with contemporary tooth-whitening trends, as hammaskiilleen was not intended to