Fun Facts

George Washington’s Teeth 

George Washington was known as a somber and serious person who rarely smiled, and for good reason, for his teeth were a mess. His teeth issues started in youth with gum diseases and abscesses resulting in yearly extractions. Dentistry in the 1700’s was primitive at best with saws, chisels, files, hammers and hand drills, which resulted in barely successful, painful sessions.

His false teeth were not wooden as suggested in history, but they were made from hippopotamus teeth which were filed, sanded and polished. They were held together by two coiled springs which made eating difficult, caused his lips to protrude, impeded his speech and caused enough pain to require medication. During his entire life he was always self conscious about how his teeth distorted his face, causing him embarrassment.

Just before his inauguration at age 57 he had one tooth left in his head and a new set of dentures made with teeth taken from fresh cadavers. The lower denture was affixed to his jaw by gold rivets and this allowed him to say the oath of office as they slipped and clicked. In December 1798 at age 66 he returned the teeth with instructions on what he wanted done to make them better. They were altered at a charge of $15.00 and he was chided for not taking care of them for they were black from soaking in wine. He was told to either soak them in broth to make them yellow or brush them with chalk dust. Washington remained a man of few words and fewer smiles until his death on December 12, 1799.
(John Martalo | Nov. 12, 2021 | https://www.almanac.com/why-george-washington-never-smiled)