| Most men and
women in the colonial era lost some of their teeth at an early age. The first
settlers to America had much more to worry about than their teeth. Just
surviving in this new land took all their time and energy. The winters were
harsh, food was scarce, and the Native Americans were not always friendly.
Visitors from Europe often commented on the poor
dental health of the colonists. They called them "pitifully tooth
shaken" and wrote that they suffered from "scurvy of the
mouth". History books tell us that women especially suffered from dental
problems and that many girls no older than 20 had lost half of their teeth.
The diet of the colonists consisted of whatever they
could grow or hunt, which meant that their diet was not always well balanced.
Molasses was added to many foods and a great deal of imported tea was consumed,
(continued.) |
