Education Online Activities
George Washington’s Teeth
Take a look at George Washington’s dental possessions and meet one of his dentists from New York. Then learn about what you can do to keep healthy teeth from the MedlinePlus dental health web site.
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George Washington by Gilbert Stuart, ca. 1798
Courtesy Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
George Washington experienced a litany of dental problems throughout his lifetime. George Washington consulted with many dentists as a patient and purchased dental items in an effort to maintain healthy teeth and treat tooth decay and pain.
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Dental hygiene traveling set, ca. 1795
Courtesy Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
George Washington regularly purchased tooth brushes, teeth scrapers, denture files, toothache medication and cleaning solutions. His possessions included this traveling dental hygiene set consisting of (from bottom to top) a container for tooth powder, tooth brush, tongue scraper, and a traveling case.
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George Washington’s dentures, ca. 1790–1799
Courtesy Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
Over the course of his life, George Washington wore many partial and full dentures made from materials such as ivory, animal and human teeth. This full-set dentures that Washington wore are constructed of lead (base), human teeth, cow teeth, and elephant ivory, brass wires, and steel springs.
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George Washington’s dentures, ca. 1790–1799
Courtesy Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
George Washington owned this full-set denture made with human and animal teeth, lead, brass wire, and steel springs. Unlike real teeth, the bulky and ill-fitting dentures were often uncomfortable and painful, while eating and speaking.
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John Greenwood, 1760–1819
Courtesy Library of Congress
George Washington was a patient of Dr. John Greenwood, a former soldier and dentist from New York. Dr. Greenwood repaired and made new custom dentures following George Washington’s specifications. View two letters between them dated 16 February and 10 September 1791.
