Dentist Tells the Truth About George Washington’s Teeth

One of the most prominent figures in all of American history is George Washington, so of course, a few myths and stories have popped up about him over the past two centuries. Besides the cherry tree, the most common one is about his false teeth, in that they were actually made of wood. Is this true, or just something history came up with? Today, your dentist in West Seneca sheds light on our first president and his troublesome teeth.

George Washington and his uncooperative teeth

It is well known that George Washington had numerous dental problems throughout his life, but very few people are aware of to what extent. According to his diary, he had his first tooth pulled at the age of 24, and many letters after this make references to issues that sound like cavities and gum disease in addition to (the now infamous) ill-fitting dentures. In fact, by the time he became president in 1789, he only had one natural tooth left, which was eventually pulled in 1796.

His dentures were made of…

Despite historical accounts of Washington’s teeth having a stained wooden appearance, his dentures were in fact never made of wood. Most of the time, they were actually made of other teeth: cow teeth, horse teeth, ivory, and even other human teeth (including a few of his own). Dentures at that time would have also been made of metal, including lead, tin, copper, and silver alloys.

His dental issues affected the American Revolution

In 1781, Washington sent a personal letter to his dentist requesting cleaning tools that was eventually intercepted by Sir Henry Clinton, the commander of the British forces in North America. In the letter, Washington writes that the tools should be sent to him outside of New York because he had “little prospect of being in Philadelphia soon…”

This convinced Clinton that the American and French forces that currently surrounded New York would not march south to attack an isolated General Cornwallis, but in reality, Washington and French general Rochambeau had already planned to do exactly that. As a result, the allied forces attacked Cornwallis, and Clinton was unable to reinforce him quickly enough, leading to a devastating British defeat at Yorktown.

Washington was very self-conscious about his teeth

Despite his glowing reputation at the time as a war hero and patriot, Washington was not immune to worrying about how his ill-fitting dentures affected his appearance as well as his ability to speak. He wrote several letters complaining about this throughout his lifetime, which is why many historians believe he did not give many speeches over the course of his political career.

Fast forward to today…

Fortunately for us (and unfortunately for Washington), dental technology and techniques have advanced quite a bit since the 18^th century. Tooth loss is at an all-time low, and modern-day dentures are more comfortable and natural-looking than ever.

However, the biggest lesson we can take from Washington is that absolutely no one is immune to dental issues, so be sure to take care of your teeth every day and regularly see your dentist. That way, if you end up in the history books, your triumphs will not be listed right next to your dental issues!

About Applegate Dental

The history buffs at Applegate Dental also happen to be highly trained dentists! With their help, whether you still have all of your teeth or even a few missing ones, they can ensure that you enjoy a strong, healthy, and beautiful smile for many years to come. To learn more ways you can avoid all of the dental issues George Washington had to deal with, contact us today.