“George Washington had wooden teeth.”

It's a common historical tidbit that George Washington, the first President of the United States, sported wooden teeth. However, this widely circulated notion is entirely untrue. While it's certainly a fact that Washington endured significant dental issues throughout his life and wore several sets of dentures, none of them were ever crafted from wood. His various dental prosthetics were actually quite sophisticated for their time, utilizing a fascinating array of materials.

Historical and scientific evidence reveals that Washington's dentures were a testament to 18th-century dentistry, incorporating everything from human teeth and animal teeth – including those from cows, horses, hippopotamuses, elephants, and even walruses – to lead, gold, and other metal alloys. The persistent misconception likely stems from the fact that the ivory used in some of his dentures, especially hippopotamus ivory, would stain and discolor over time due to food and drink. This staining would give the dentures a dark, grainy, and wood-like appearance, leading many to mistakenly believe they were made of timber.

The enduring belief in Washington's wooden teeth is a classic example of how a visual misinterpretation can evolve into a widespread myth. Despite the historical records and extant examples of his dentures, the image of a founding father with wooden chompers remains a popular, albeit inaccurate, part of American folklore. Understanding the true composition of his dentures offers a more accurate and equally intriguing glimpse into the medical challenges and technological solutions of his era.