Why We Think George Washington Had Wooden Teeth | Snohomish Dentist

George Washington – great leader and forefather of our nation. Also, doesn’t lie, not a fan of cherry trees and is the proud owner of wooden teeth. This is the gist we know about President Washington growing up. And of all of these things, the strangest fun fact was the wooden teeth. Unfortunately, this fun fact has been proven to be a mere myth. George Washington never had wooden teeth. In honor of President’s Day, let’s take a look at the myth behind George Washington’s wooden teeth… Back in the 1700’s dental technology was basic at best. We obviously didn’t have the best dental care, nor the best dental habits. Because of this, dental problems were incredibly common to everyone. Because George Washington was a leader in the military, he had even less chance to get to a dentist if something happened in the midst of battle. This caused him to lose all but one tooth by the time he made his First Inaugural Address in 1789. To remedy this affliction, Washington had various dentures made of ivory, gold and lead – no wood. Why? Wood was never used to make dentures.

So, where did we get wood idea? Well, dental scientists and historians have a theory. Just like our teeth, dentures will begin to stain over time. They believe that it was the staining of his ivory set that gave the impression of wood. Funny, right?

Lesson? Remember to keep up with your dental hygiene so no one says you have wooden teeth.

If you would like more information about dentures, call Dr. Haines in Snohomish, WA at 360-568-8577 or visit www.tedhainesdds.com.

Dr. Haines proudly serves Snohomish, Monroe, Lake Stevens, Everett, Mill Creek, Woodinville, and surrounding areas.