Did you know that in 1976, more than 150 years after his death, George Washington was promoted to Six Star General in the U.S. military? This promotion was invented solely for Washington, meaning no U.S. military officer can ever outrank him. Read on to learn a tiny bit more about the fact and fiction behind Washington’s famous false teeth.
George Washington might be the most famous denture-wearer to Americans, but numerous of the things we’ve heard aren’t exactly true. Though John Adams claimed Washington lost his teeth due to his love of nuts and his penchant to crack them open with his chompers, modern historians believe that it was mercury oxide, a common medicine at the time, that most likely led to Washington’s tooth loss issue.
Contrary to common belief, none of Washington’s pearly whites were formed of wood: Washington’s four sets of dentures were formed from materials including hippo ivory, elephant ivory and real human teeth. Sadly, Washington’s oral problems left him in near-constant pain. Today, false teeth are made from resins that make sure toughness and real-life resemblance; please ask us about false teeth on your next appointment if you or a loved one are missing several pearly whites.
Set up your checkup by calling (931) 277-4666 now, or come into our Pulaski, Tennessee, location to talk to Dr. Nathan Owens and the Owens Family & Cosmetic Dentistry staff face-to-face.