Medieval Dental Beliefs: Saints and Relics

In all the religions and from time immemorial, there is a particular belief system. Therefore, of all periods of history, the Christian saints have been prayed. Healing virtues were attributed to them when the believers highly prayed them in the context of diseases. In this way, Saint Anthony and Saint Fermin of Amiens were often addressed in the case of scurvy. As for tongue diseases, people prayed Saint Catherine. In the case of dental problems, believers consulted Saint Christopher, Saint Engelmund, Saint Blaise, Saint Dalmace, Saint Rigobert, Saint Crescence, Saint Dizié, Saint Medardus, Saint Nicholas, Saint Céran, Saint Roch and Saint Apollinia [1]. But the prayers also turned towards Saint Anne, Saint Anthony, Saint Christine, Saint Gildas, Saint Giles, Saint Joseph, Saint Laurent, Saint Maur, Saint Maurice, Saint Rategonde, Saint Simon, Saint Thomas and Saint Tugen. Even though Saint Apollinia later became the Holy Patroness of dentists and of those who suffer from their teeth, it seemed that at that time fervor in prayers concerning dental pain have increasingly moved to Saint Christopher. Philip Augustus the 2nd (1165-1223)'s subjects had already adopted those beliefs. But these practices also concerned relics of saints.