White teeth

[Paul Kekai Manansala]

> From:          Luis Gonzalez-Reimann <reimann at uclink.berkeley.edu>

> Dear list members,
> 
> Some Puraa.nas describe the Buddha as wearing red clothes (kaa.saayavastra),
> having the head shaven (mu.n.dita) and white teeth ('sukladanta).  Does
> anyone know the significance of the white teeth?
> 

Chewing paan (betel) stains the teeth red, so white teeth
might be considered unusual among people who chewed a lot 
of  paan.  

Regards,
Paul Kekai Manansala