The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

When I was in my first year of Dental Hygiene school I
learned of a dental superstition from one of my instructors. It
states that for every pregnancy a woman goes through she will
lose one tooth. Neither I nor my instructor are sure how or
where this belief came about, but we do know that it was
considered an "old wive's tale."

James Callow comment: See Hand, North Carolina, no. 13: "Each child costs a woman a
tooth." Hand cites parallels among Pennsylvania Germans and
Southern Blacks, as well as the residents of Illinois and the
Ozarks.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1987