In consequence of his eating badly because of the misery in the Borinage, Vincent lost a dozen teeth. Adding to his poorly-clad wretch looks, his toothless smile must have repelled people.
Though he had paid little attention to his appearance so far, when he arrived in Anvers, in a big city, he felt the urge of taking care of himself and being more presentable. .
“ As for my physical appearance, I must improve it a little. I’m having my teeth done. I lost a dozen teeth. That’s too much, I resent it. I look more than forty years old, it harms me. I have thus decided to arrange that.”
In Paris, a few months after his arrival, he undergoes a new teeth surgery and wears dentures which improve his appearance a good deal.