The Amish are a fascinating and unique community with many customs and traditions that may seem mysterious to outsiders.
One of the most curious practices of the Amish is their apparent penchant for dental extraction.
It’s not uncommon to hear stories of Amish people having all of their teeth removed, leaving them with a host of health challenges.
But why do the Amish remove their teeth? In this article, we will explore this topic and provide insights into the reasons behind this practice.
Why Do the Amish Get Their Teeth Pulled?
The Amish get their teeth removed due to limited access to professional dental care and a belief that dental care is a cosmetic concern rather than a health issue.
Many Amish individuals have poor dental hygiene due to limited access to modern dental care and knowledge of preventive dental care.
The cost of dental care can be prohibitively expensive for some Amish families. This makes tooth removal a cheap last-resort solution.
The tradition of tooth removal has also been passed down through generations. Many Amish perceive tooth removal as a necessary sacrifice for maintaining good health and saving money.
Why Do So Many Amish Have Dentures?
Many Amish people have dentures because they have had their teeth removed. This is common practice. They prefer dentures to dental care because it’s much cheaper.
Their Amish diet includes many sugary and starchy foods, which can contribute to tooth decay. As a result, many Amish people have opted to have their teeth removed and replaced with dentures.
Do the Amish Go to the Dentist?
Some Amish go to the dentist to get professional dental care. The frequency and extent of dental care may vary among different Amish communities.
In general, the Amish prioritize natural health remedies. Many only seek dental care when necessary for pain relief or severe dental issues.
The high cost of regularly visiting the dentist is a major drawback for many.
However, it is worth noting that not all Amish communities practice tooth removal. Some have begun to seek professional dental care in recent years.
“Amish Dentists”
However, many Amish people still have dental procedures done by a trusted family member or friend who has “experience in the field”. These “Amish dentists” are unlicensed and use unorthodox extraction tools such as a simple pair of pliers.
They are self-taught and don’t have a proper license that authorizes them to offer dental care services.
Amish Dental Care Statistics
In a 2017 study published in the National Library of Medicine titled “Oral health and medical conditions among Amish children,” it was found that 88% of Amish children had high levels of untreated tooth decay.
The typical Amish child had 6.8 untreated decayed primary or permanent teeth.
The study also found that:
- 66.8% of children hadn’t visited a dentist in the past year
- 27.8% of children hadn’t seen a dentist
- 86.6 % were uninsured although Medicaid was available to them
- 31% of families reported they could not afford to get dental care for their children in the past 12 months
- 36.2% of children had a toothache in the last 6 months
Conclusion
Tooth removal is a common practice among the Amish community. The main reasons include financial constraints, lack of access to modern dental care, lack of knowledge about dental care, and a focus on natural remedies.
Many Amish individuals continue to rely on this practice as a necessary part of their oral healthcare.
It is important to understand and respect the cultural beliefs of the Amish, while also recognizing the importance of accessible and affordable dental care for all individuals.
Removal of all your teeth and replacement with dentures was a common practise in Europe, too, going back maybe 100-150 years. Particularly for women, whose parents would get this procedure done (I think generally by a qualified dentist, and with anaesthesia) to their daughters as a ‘wedding present’ for their husbands-to-be. My own grandmother had it done after having one filling because she ‘wasn’t going to go through that again’. She was born before WW1 (1905?), and it wasn’t seen as a weird or unusual request.