In honor of Presidents Day, we thought it would be fun to explore the dental history of some former US presidents.
George Washington – Growing up, we always thought that George Washington’s false teeth were made of wood. Scientists have proven this theory untrue. Washington actually had several sets of ill-fitting dentures made of various materials, including hippopotamus ivory, sea lion ivory, and lead, as well as teeth from pigs, cows, elks, and humans.
John Adams – President Adams had an incredible sweet tooth, which contributed to the loss of his teeth. However, this was not the only factor. Adams was in the habit of inducing vomiting to cure other ailments. He refused to wear dentures, and this led to difficulty speaking. After encountering a fellow senior citizen, Adams wrote: “He is above 80. I cannot speak, and he cannot hear. Yet we converse.”