Did George Washington Really Have Wooden Teeth?
Posted on February 13th, 2017
When he became the first president of the United States, George Washington had only one real tooth left! You heard right…just ONE.
Everyone has heard something about this great man and his dental history, but if you heard that Washington had wooden teeth, then you heard wrong. This myth is totally false, and Dr. Meghna Dassani at Dassani Dentistry is here to tell you the truth.
Dental Care in Colonial Times
It was a combination of bad genes and even worse medical practices that led Washington down the path to becoming toothless.
Washington experienced many health problems throughout his life. And he was often treated with “calomel,” a common medicine at the time that contained mercury and ruined teeth.
Toothpaste at the time was also made from very abrasive material like tree bark and brick dust, which likely continued to break down Washington’s natural teeth.
Many people in Washington’s time had fake teeth, but none were made of wood. And, as gross as it sounds, rich citizens at the time were able to purchase real human teeth to fill in their own smile.
George Washington Had Dentures
Washington’s personal diary records frequent sore teeth, inflamed gums, and even his first tooth extraction for 5 shillings at the young age of 24.
By the time Washington had lost the rest of his teeth, he was rich enough to get a very fancy set of his own dentures. But they were not made of wood at all. Washington’s dentures were made of a combination of human teeth, cow teeth, as well as elephant and hippopotamus ivory. His dentures also included gold, lead, and metal springs. How’s that for a mouthful?
It was important to Washington’s self-esteem that he had the total appearance of a strong, healthy leader. And he believed it was important for the reputation of his new nation, too. Historical letters show Washington begging his dentist to be sure that his dentures wouldn’t be obvious with a closed mouth. Sadly, Washington went to great lengths to keep his mouth closed, so he rarely laughed or smiled.
Not only were his dentures high maintenance (needing regular care from a dentist) but they also caused his mouth a lot of pain. It’s believed that Washington’s dentures negatively affected his leadership because he avoided public speaking.
Washington’s wife, Martha, started off with strong teeth but eventually she needed dentures, too. Inspired by her and her husband’s oral health problems, Martha was always sure to take good care of her children’s oral hygiene.
Take Care, Before You Need Dentures, Too!
Did you know that 20-30% of all adults in the US have gum disease severe enough to threaten losing their teeth? If you do need dentures or implants, we can certainly help. But we’d also love to help you keep your teeth in the first place.
Houston locals, come see us for all of your dental care needs. Call us today for the best chance of keeping all your teeth to yourself!
Sources
About Meghna Dassani, DMD
Dr. Meghna Dassani received her initial dental training from the University of Mumbai, India, where she graduated in 1996 as Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS). After working as an associate for one year, she established her own practice in Mumbai, India. She successfully operated this practice for six years prior to moving to the US. When Dr. Meghna Dassani is not in the office she is at home being a mommy to her 2 beautiful girls and enjoying time relaxing with her husband. Since opening her own practice in 2011 she doesn’t have a lot of free time but when the time allows she enjoys traveling, reading, gardening, cooking, visiting with friends and family and of course SHOPPING with a Starbucks in her hand!
