Did people in Tudor times deliberately make their teeth look black?

Yes, during Tudor times, particularly among the wealthy, people deliberately blackened their teeth as a sign of status and wealth. This was often achieved using a mixture of ingredients like vinegar and soot, which created a fashionable aesthetic. The practice was also a result of dental hygiene issues, as many had decaying teeth, and blackening them was seen as more appealing than showing decay. Thus, blackened teeth became a trend that symbolized opulence and refinement in that era.