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George Washington's Teeth

GNC

King-Sized Canary
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Aug 25, 2001
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I tried the search facility and got every mention of George and Washington ever made here, so I'll try posting a thread. Inspired by Classical Corner of the latest FT: did George Washington have wooden false teeth or not? Can we thrash this one out?
 
I read an article on the subject not long ago, cant recall where.

He had several sets of varying materials.

And I believe he cleaned them in some fluid that stained them BROWN

So, maybe not wood; but wood looking
 
I guess everyone loves brown teeth!

Thanks for the info!
 
One of the most enduring myths about George Washington is that his dentures were made of wood. It’s quite possible that some of his dentures, particularly after they had been stained, took on a wooden complexion, but wood was never used in the construction of any of his dental fittings.

Throughout his life Washington employed numerous full and partial dentures that were constructed of materials including human, and probably cow and horse teeth, ivory (possibly elephant), lead-tin alloy, copper alloy (possibly brass), and silver alloy.
SOURCE: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/health/washingtons-teeth

Presently, a few of Washington's false teeth still exist. Part of a denture made by Greenwood is owned by the New York Academy of Medicine as is the decorative case holding Washington’s last tooth. The only complete set of Washington's dentures that still survives is preserved by George Washington's Mount Vernon and is made of animal and human teeth, lead, and ivory.
SOURCE: https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/false-teeth/

Here's a photo of the only surviving complete set of Washington's dentures.

WashingtonDentures.jpg
 
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