MYTH #3:  Washington’s Wooden Teeth

                A myth that is still believed by many is that George Washington had dentures made of wood.  This myth appeared in textbooks as late as the early 20^th Century.  He had at least four pairs of false teeth during his lifetime, but none were made of wood.  It is theorized that the myth began because the ivory teeth Washington wore became discolored to the point where they might have looked like wood. 

Washington began losing his teeth in his early twenties.  It was not unusual for 18^th Century Americans to lose teeth.  This could be caused by poor diet, disease, and/or genetics.  Washington once told John Adams that he attributed his loss of teeth to cracking walnuts with his teeth when he was young.  More likely, the culprit was the mercury chloride he used for smallpox.  He acquired his first set of dentures before the Revolution.  Dr. John Baker crafted a partial denture of ivory that was wired to his remaining teeth.  By his inauguration, he was down to one tooth.  Dr. John Greenwood made a set of hippo ivory that used gold wire springs and brass screws.  He took the oath of office with them.  Later, when he lost his last tooth, he gave it to Greenwood. 

We know that Washington bought human teeth from some of his slaves.  In his ledger was the following notation:  “By Cash pd Negroes for 9 Teeth on Acct of Dr. Lemoire.”  It is probable that those teeth were used for a pair of dentures.  At Mount Vernon, you can see on display a set of dentures with human teeth, but is impossible to determine if the teeth came from slaves.  Did the various pairs of dentures solve Washington’s dental problems?  Look at a painting of him and he sure looks like he is not jolly.  The uncomfortable dentures may account for his volcanic temper when he got riled.  He usually maintained his cool through the constant pain, which is a testament to his self-control.

https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/false-teeth/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington%27s_teeth

https://www.history.com/news/did-george-washington-have-wooden-teeth

https://www.livescience.com/61919-george-washington-teeth-not-wood.html