What are the standards by which we may rank teeth? As any practical taxonomy can be constructed, we begin with lived experience and encounter our first problem. Singling out a tooth in one’s mouth proves difficult, for if not for one, the whole surely would lack in aesthetics and function. So, we can expedite this relational process by turning outwards.
While preference may suffice in this endeavor, we encounter another interiority trap, one of objectivity. For instance, sharp canines or off-white teeth might well be ideal, and if I had to anoint a single tooth to sit in that coveted top position, it would be that of Emily Brontë’s canine, right—from her perspective…
How To Rank Teeth - New Publication
My latest essay is out now in New Delta Review
