Fun Fact: The Truth about George Washington’s Teeth
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011
True or false…did our first president, George Washington, have wooden teeth? Surprisingly most Americans believe he did when in reality, he tried dentures made of many materials—but never wood! Washington’s life-long dental problems are well documented. In fact, when he became the first president of the United States at age 47, he only had one natural tooth left in his mouth. And as one of the wealthiest men in America at that time, Washington could afford the very best in dentistry. He had dentures made from gold, hippopotamus tusk, elephant ivory, and even human teeth as he searched desperately to find a proper and comfortable fit. While Washington is known for his place in our country’s history, his dental problems serve as an excellent warning to us all: “look after your teeth and they will look after you.”
