Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship between the pink teeth phenomenon and the cause of death as well as its significance in forensic medicine. Methods Inspection method was adopted to observe the pink teeth phenomenon in different causes of death. Ten rats were selected for every experimental groups, which were then divided into two groups:Eight in fresh group with teeth pulled immediately, and two in decayed group with body decayed in water firstly. The teeth pulled from rats were immersed in 75% alcohol and observed at different immersion time. Results In every fresh groups, pink teeth phenomenon was not observed when they were pulled immediately, whereas it emerged gradually after the teeth immersed in 75% alcohol, and the color showed distinct and constant four hours later. In decayed groups, Pink teeth phenomenon was observed immediately when teeth pulled, it became distinct and constant after one hour′s immersion in alcohol. So it was more distinctive in the decayed groups than that in the fresh groups. Conclusion There is no significant connection between the pink teeth phenomenon and the cause of death, thus it may not be subject to forensic identification.

Key words: pink teeth, postmortem phenomenon, cause of death