Teeth and Egyptian beliefs?

Question

Yesterday, I had to leave work early due to a scheduled dentist appointment. I was informed to make up an excuse for our boss, not tell him what I actually was doing because something about teeth or mentioning them or whatever is bad luck according to the Egyptian culture. Can anyone expand on that or at least shed a little light on the subject? This is the second Egyptian boss I've had and the first I've heard this mentioned.

Answer 1

There are some cultures that have superstitions about teeth. Some believe that if a baby is born with teeth already in its mouth, that it is a bad omen.

In some other countries, it is believed that you need to place a tooth that has come out of your mouth into the nest of a mouse or rat. This "prevents" the animal's tooth from growing back into your own mouth..

A final one is that if you loose a tooth, the tooth animal will come looking for more, and remove them from your mouth at night.

Perhaps one of these superstitions apply here.

Answer 2

Never heard of this. Ancient Egyptians used a dental cream made from oxen hooves mixed with burned egg shells, pumice and water for their teeth whitening needs, and used Chew-sticks to keep them clean instead of tooth brushes, but as far as I know there is no taboo against dentistry in the Egyptian culture.