Writing Characters’ Teeth

I know, I know! Weird, right? Well, maybe not so weird.  Describing a character’s teeth can help lengthen a physical beat in dialogue to make it less choppy (not to mention the extra characterization/immersion for the reader.) For example, a character might smile to show a mouthful of rotted teeth. Or bite her lip with an underbite. Here’s some examples:

Then cuts the thread with her teeth, etching more deeply the tailor’s notch in her left front tooth” (Angela Slatter)

The way the teeth reached forward as if they were racing to get ahead of the nose (KJ Parker)

tar-stained teeth

Gap-toothed

A sailor with fewer teeth than fingers and only one hand (Rob J. Hayes)

Chipped teeth

Underbite

Uneven teeth

His own teeth square and yellow, like those of a horse

Toothy (grin)

Snaggletoothed (an irregular or projecting tooth)

“half-rotted teeth”

White teeth inset with tiny jewels

“a run of teeth”

Long teeth

“Saw his teeth were filed across the front with killer’s grooves”

Broken-toothed grimace

Sharp-toothed smile

Horse teeth/buckteeth

No front teeth

Pearly white teeth

Crooked set of teeth

Regardless of how much grain or loaves of bread a single soldier might have received, he will undoubtedly suffered from worn teeth, a problem faced by every Egyptian. The bead contained a high level of grit, introduced either in the flour as it was milled or as mind-blown sand and dust. This wore down the enamel of the teeth causing at best some discomfort and pain, at worst serious abscesses and infections that could prove fatal (Osprey Collection on Egyptian Architecture)

Stubby-toothed

“Gave a smile that showed every one of her pointed teeth

“He beamed at her, his teeth bright white against his tanned skin.”

She smiled crooked old teeth at him

 

DISCLAIMER: None of the longer excerpts belong to me. The intention here is to get your brain jogging, not directly insert quotes into your work.

IMG: https://www.deviantart.com/sambriggs/art/Vampire-s-Final-Death-II-308391487