In the depths of my wardrobe lies an aged chocolate tin, its contents stirring with a faint rattle when disturbed. Inside rest the once-glistening, now tarnished baby teeth of my grown daughters. On occasion, one of them stumbles upon the tin, unwittingly unveiling its contents, only to recoil in visceral disgust.
Admittedly, I share their sentiment towards the teeth's repulsiveness, yet I find myself unable to part with them. Despite their eerie resemblance to the keepsakes of a macabre collector, to me, they symbolize a fleeting epoch I struggle to recall.
Initially believing I harbored this peculiar collection alone, I was surprised to discover fellow parents with similar stories. Melbourne filmmaker Anna Brownfield and Sydney publicist Jo Corbett confessed to preserving their children's baby teeth as well, alongside other cherished mementos from their early years.
Although Corbett's children, like mine, view her collection with a mix of bemusement and horror, she remains undeterred, relishing in the opportunity to provoke their reactions.
The act of safeguarding teeth and other bodily remnants transcends cultures and epochs. From the quaint customs of 19th-century Europe to Queen Victoria's lavish display of her children's teeth-turned-jewelry, the practice of preserving physical remnants of loved ones echoes a primal instinct.
In today's age, however, the means of memorialization have evolved. Online platforms like Etsy offer bespoke jewelry crafted from customers' teeth, providing a modern twist to an age-old tradition.
Australian artisans like Hayley Smith and Jacqui Williams have capitalized on this trend, fashioning delicate accessories from human teeth, each piece carrying a poignant narrative of remembrance and connection.
For individuals like Rinelda van den Berg, commissioning a tooth-adorned ring serves as a tangible reminder of her daughter's fleeting childhood milestones, immortalizing precious moments in time.
As for me, my daughters' baby teeth remain ensconced within their chocolate tin, a relic of bygone days cherished solely by my sentimental heart. Though their fate posthumously may be mundane, for now, they serve a dual purpose: both as a reminder of cherished memories and as a playful deterrent for curious intruders into my wardrobe's depths.
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