What is the tooth filing ceremony?

Tooth Filing Ceremony contains the meaning of cleaning evil characters in human beings. Tooth filing ceremony in the Balinese Language is called “Mepandes,” and it can also be called as Matatah or Mesangih, where two pieces of canines and four incisors on the top row of teeth are filed or leveled.

Why do teenagers get their teeth filed down in Bali?

In Bali, in a ritual known as Potong gigi or cut teeth, teenagers have their canine teeth filed down because it is thought they represented negative emotions such as anger and jealousy. It is also seen as a way to spiritually separate them from their animalistic instincts and ancestors.

What is Metatah ceremony?

Tooth-filing or metatah is an important Hindu Balinese rite of passage. This very important ceremony is performed for Hindu Balinese when they come of age. Every parent who has a child who has reached adolescence is obliged to carry out this ritual. For poor families, this ceremony will be sponsored by the government.

What is tooth filling in Indonesia?

For every Hindu in Bali, the tooth-filing ceremony (potong gigi in Indonesian or mesangih or mepandes in Balinese) is a rite of passage for teenagers, one of several coming-of-age ceremonies.

Why do Balinese file their teeth?

In the main ritual, the participants are asked to lie down, open their mouth and showing their teeth. The feeling ceremony of the six teeth is a symbol of filing six human natures which are considered as enemy of human being.

How do you file teeth?

With the fingernail file you can take that file on that sharp edge of the tooth. Within a few strokes, that sharp edge is a rounded edge making the tooth feel so much better. Most people have a fingernail file at home. While I did use a metal nail file in my demonstration, any nail file will work.

Why is tooth filing important to Balinese Hindu tradition?

Can you have teeth filed?

The tooth reshaping process is completely painless. Only the surface of the tooth is being filed with paper disks, which means you will not feel anything during the treatment. It’s a little bit like filing your nails. It won’t hurt a bit and they’ll look great afterwards.

Can you have your teeth filed?

Can I file my own tooth?

But just because you could do this doesn’t mean you should do it. Experts say that you see a dentist instead. If you try to file or shave your teeth at home, you can damage the enamel on your teeth, which can lead to a whole host of other problems. You can’t regrow tooth enamel, so any damage is irreversible.

Can my dentist file my teeth?

So, can a dentist file a slightly chipped tooth? The short answer is “yes.” If the damage is minor, the dentist might be able to file the tooth and smooth out the chip. If the damage is severe, the tooth will probably require more than enamel reshaping.

What are canine teeth?

canine tooth, also called cuspid or eye tooth, in mammals, any of the single-cusped (pointed), usually single-rooted teeth adapted for tearing food, and occurring behind or beside the incisors (front teeth). In humans there are four canines, one in each half of each jaw.

What is the tooth filing ceremony in Bali?

The Tooth Filing Ceremony or Potong Gigi as it is known in Bali is a beautiful ritual where the canine teeth are filed down in a symbolic gesture of removing “the evil from the fangs”.

What is the significance of tooth filing ceremony in Hinduism?

Tooth filing ceremony has implications beyond Hinduism; it is more related to Balinese tradition. For locals, long canine teeth are not good enough aesthetically, so it is more for beautification reasons. However, Bali Hinduism also honor Dewa Kama or also known as Sang Hyang Semara Ratih, The God of beauty.

What is a Balinese teeth filing?

It is considered part of a parent’s responsibility to their child and as a responsibility it has to be carried out no matter what. So, a Balinese person is considered eligible to have their teeth filed once they reach adolescence. However, since the ceremony requires a big budget families can postpone it until they have the means to carry it out.

What are the Hindu rituals in Bali?

This ceremony is one of the biggest Hindu rituals in Bali as well as a part of Human Ceremony. Furthermore, the ceremony is held by smoothing down incisor and eye-tooth.