Potential army recruits were turned away if they had tooth decay or missing teeth, because they would be unable to bite open a powder cartridge for a musket or use their teeth to remove a grenade’s safety clip; they would also struggle to eat properly. During the Boer War, the British had to send mincing machines to South Africa, so that soldiers were not forced to choke down unmasticated lumps of meat.
即使她也要用到假牙，但像过去牙齿很差的人所面临的难题她不太可能遇到。有蛀牙或少牙的年轻人不能参军，因为他们可能无法用牙咬开步枪火药盒或手榴弹安全夹；他们连吃饭也有困难。布尔战争期间，英军不得不把绞肉机运到南非，以免士兵被迫将未经咀嚼的肉块囫囵咽下。