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George Washington, the first President of the United States, lost all but one of his teeth by the time he was inaugurated, and had at least four sets of dentures he used throughout his life. Made with ivory brass and gold, they were primarily attended to by John Greenwood, Washington's dentist.
Despite fastidiously brushing his teeth with tooth powder, scraping his tongue of bacteria, and using mouthwash, George Washington lost his first tooth at age 24 and was wearing a full set of dentures by age 57.
When George Washington became president on April 30, 1789, he only had one tooth in his head, a single premolar poking up from his gums. A combination of bad genes and even worse 18th century...
At his swearing in as first president of the United States, George Washington has only one tooth remaining. That year he receives the first of four full sets of dentures made by John Greenwood, featuring hippopotamus ivory and human teeth.
3 Mac 2018 · In fact, Washington had multiple sets of dentures, and they were made of ivory, metal alloys and — most disturbingly — the teeth of other humans, quite possibly slaves.
Collectively, these four dentures include: hippopotamus, walrus, and probably elephant ivory; cow, horse, and human teeth; lead, brass, silver, gold, and tiny wood pegs. Only two of the dentures (including the set at Mount Vernon) contain human teeth, for the incisors on the lower jaw.
George Washington by Gilbert Stuart, ca. 1798 Courtesy Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. George Washington’s dentures, ca. 1790-1799 Lead (base); human teeth, cow teeth, and elephant ivory (teeth); brass wires, steel springs.
