Sinking our teeth into it TB Shabbat 65

Wearing clothing is not considered carrying; nevertheless as we have learned, the rabbis forbad women and men to wear certain pieces of clothing and jewelry on Shabbat. A sugiya about false teeth on today’s daf TB Shabbat 65 provides a wonderful example why the sages forbid certain things that you might think would be permitted.

“We learned in the mishna that the Sages disagree whether or not a woman may go out on Shabbat with a false tooth and a gold tooth; Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi permits doing so and the Rabbis prohibit doing so. Rabbi Zeira said: They only taught the dispute with regard to a gold tooth. Since it is precious, she might remove it from her mouth to show her friends and come to carry it. However, with regard to a silver tooth, which is less precious, there is no concern that she will remove it from her mouth. Everyone agrees that it is permitted. That opinion was also taught in a baraita: With regard to a tooth made of silver, everyone agrees that it is permitted. With regard to a tooth of gold, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi permits going out with it and the Rabbis prohibit going out with it.

“Abaye said: Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, and Rabbi Eliezer, and Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar all hold that anything that makes her unappealing when removed, she will not come to remove it and show it to others. Therefore, it is permitted for her to go out with it.” (Sefaria.org translation)

The Tosafot back on daf TB Shabbat 57a gives three reasons why these types of things were forbidden to wear on Shabbat. I’ll use today’s discussion of the gold tooth as my example. 1, if the gold tooth would fall out, the person would want to pick it up, carry it four amot in the public domain, and thus violate Shabbat. The second reason is similar to the first. 2, a person might want to show off that gold tooth to a friend by taking it out and then accidentally walking with it in his/her hand four amot in the public domain. I have to admit that this scenario is more likely to happen with a beautiful piece of jewelry than a false tooth. The third reason relates to the person being self-conscious. 3, removing a false tooth would expose a gap and make a person self-conscious about his/her looks. Consequently, s/he wouldn’t remove it. That’s why some rabbis permit wearing a false gold tooth on Shabbat. If an object doesn’t make the person self-conscious by removing it, the rabbis were afraid s/he would remove it and accidentally four amot in the public domain.