George Washington didn’t have wooden teeth!
Did you know that George Washington’s teeth were not made of wood? They were actually made of ivory from a hippopotamus. Take a peek at the first president’s famous choppers and find out more about his tooth troubles in a special presidential gallery at the National Museum of Dentistry.
“Many people are surprised to find out that George Washington never had wooden dentures,” said Museum Curator Dr. Scott Swank. “We think the myth arose since ivory dentures tend to stain like wood after years of eating and drinking.”
The National Museum of Dentistry features a gallery devoted to the first president and his tooth troubles. His dentures—made of ivory—are on display, as well as forceps made to pull his teeth on the Revolutionary War battlefield and examples of presidential portraits that show how tooth loss affected Washington’s appearance.
Washington lost his first tooth when he was 22 years old. Despite the fact that he brushed with tooth powder daily, he would have only one tooth in his mouth by the time he was inaugurated president in 1789. Washington had many illnesses during his life, including smallpox and malaria. Treatments included remedies such as mercurous chloride, which is known to destroy the teeth.
His favorite dentist, John Greenwood, would make several sets of dentures for George Washington during his lifetime—and none of them would be made from wood. In fact, they were carved from hippopotamus ivory and elephant ivory. Some of the dentures were set in gold and held in place with springs that held the upper and lower teeth together.
For more on George Washington’s not-so-wooden teeth, check out this article in the Baltimore Sun.
Or learn more about his tooth troubles here.
Oddities Tour - March 20, 11 a.m.
On this special guided Oddities Tour of the collection, see Queen Victoria’s dental instruments, Mrs. Tom Thumb’s petite porcelain denture, and the fluoridation unit used in Senator Robert Kennedy’s home. Learn all about the medieval tooth worm theory, the curious ways people have decorated their teeth, how a dentist first discovered ether to numb the pain, and more. The Oddities Tour is being held in conjunction with Obscura Day, an international celebration of curious places around the world.
The tour is free with regular Museum admission - $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and college students, $3 for children ages 3-18. Space is limited; register here.
New MouthPower educational CD
The National Museum of Dentistry has partnered with United Concordia Dental to produce a CD-ROM version of the Museum’s popular MouthPower oral health education program. Modeled on the MouthPower Online program (http://www.MouthPower.org), the CD-ROM will assist dentists and hygienists in educating their patients about the benefits of good oral health.
The program features the chatterteeth character Mouthie in an interactive laboratory where children can learn how to brush and floss, make smart food choices and steer clear of the pitfalls of tobacco. The CD-ROM includes easy-to-use, bilingual lessons and fun activity sheets that will help children learn good oral health habits. It will be distributed to 45,000 United Concordia participating dentists nationwide, as well as to those who request the program through the Museum.
“The secret to a healthy smile is simple—taking good care of your teeth,” said National Museum of Dentistry Executive Director Jonathan Landers. “The MouthPower program shows kids how to do that in a fun and educational way.”
“We are excited to partner with the National Museum of Dentistry to share this outstanding oral health education program with our participating dentists,” said Karen A. Whitesel, United Concordia Dental Corporate Vice President of Professional Relations. “Our hope is that this exciting tool will help dentists teach their young patients lifelong habits that maintain healthy smiles.”
The National Museum of Dentistry’s MouthPower oral health education program teaches children about good oral health around the world through its online game (available in English and Spanish at http://www.mouthpower.org), across the country in a popular traveling exhibit and on site at the Museum in Baltimore in a hands-on exhibit. The program is also being adapted to be used with Head Start programs in Baltimore City and as a mentoring program for Girl Scouts.
To order a free MouthPower CD-ROM, e-mail or call 410/706-9599.
