George Washington's teeth
The story that George Washington had wooden teeth is a common myth, but it isn't true. Washington did wear dentures, but they weren't made of wood. His dentures were actually constructed from a combination of materials, including human teeth, animal teeth (such as horse or cow teeth), ivory (from hippopotamus or elephant), and metal components like lead, brass, and gold.
The myth of wooden teeth may have arisen due to the appearance of his dentures. Over time, the ivory could become stained and discolored, possibly leading people to believe they were made of wood. Washington suffered from dental problems throughout his life, losing many of his teeth early on, and his dentures were uncomfortable, requiring frequent adjustments.
Despite these dental issues, Washington was careful about maintaining his public image, even altering his facial expressions to hide his dentures during portraits. One of his famous portraits by Gilbert Stuart reportedly required a bit of cotton to be stuffed into his mouth to give his face a more natural shape.
In summary, while George Washington did have dentures, they were made of various materials but not wood.
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