As we celebrate President’s Day, we are likely thinking about the heroic actions of our past leaders. Washington’s unflappable courage, Jefferson’s noble rhetoric, and Lincoln’s stalwart dedication are all the stuff of legend. So it’s easy to forget that these towering historical figures were also human and were affected by the same problems that we have. One of these issues was dental hygiene. Because many presidents lived in times before regular preventive dentistry, they often suffered from severe oral health concerns.
At Dental Care of Lombard, Dr. Julie Glud offers family-focused care. Though she performs a wide range of restorative and cosmetic procedures, her primary goal is to keep dental issues from occurring to begin with. Routine exams, cleanings, and oral cancer screenings can prevent many of the problems that plagued our US presidents.
Read on to learn more about presidential dental hygiene since our founding. Then contact us to ensure that your own oral health is on track!
George Washington
George Washington is famous for his wooden teeth. But while our first president did wear dentures, they weren’t made of wood. Rather, they were made from a mixture of ivory and human teeth.
Washington’s dental problems were lifelong, but they weren’t due to a lack of care. He was known to buy dozens of toothbrushes throughout his life, even purchasing them during his exploits in the French and Indian War and his time at the Constitutional Convention.
Unfortunately, general dental hygiene at the time was poor. Although Washington had toothbrushes, he brushed with tinctures of myrrh and other products. None of these had fluoride, which we know today to be essential in strengthening teeth and fighting tooth decay.
Despite his best efforts, Washington had his first tooth extraction in 1756. He had one or more teeth removed almost yearly after that. By 1781, he was wearing a set of what were essentially partial dentures, false teeth bound to the remaining natural teeth with wires. When he was inaugurated president in 1789, he had only one natural tooth left. It was that same year that he received his first set of the now-famous dentures. Four of these sets of false teeth are contained in the museum collections at Mount Vernon.
John Adams
Our second president, John Adams, reportedly neglected dental hygiene altogether and would never brush his teeth. He further damaged his dental health with his excessive love of sweets and his habit of inducing vomiting to “treat” various illnesses. He also refused to wear dentures and, as a result, developed a lisp. By the time he died, Adams had no remaining natural teeth.
Thomas Jefferson
In contrast, our third president, Thomas Jefferson, had good dental health for his day. Unbelievably good dental health, in fact, as many historians doubt the veracity of his claims. At age 76, he wrote in a letter, “I have not yet lost a tooth by age.” Perhaps his good fortune was genetic. He also claimed that his grandfather had died at age 84 without losing a single tooth.
Jefferson’s papers record several payments to dentists throughout his life, though these may have been for treatments rendered to members of his household. In 1807, he wrote about a swollen area on his jaw, which was later treated. It is assumed by modern dental experts that this was an abscessed tooth. By the end of his life, Jefferson did lose one or possibly two teeth. Still, this is a remarkable feat in an age when dental hygiene was still in its infancy.
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln may have been fearless in his fight to maintain the Union, but he reportedly harbored a great phobia of dentists. Nonetheless, in keeping with his stoic nature, he did not let this keep him from necessary dental care. Once, requiring a dental extraction, he asked his dentist to stop. He then produced his own bottle of chloroform, inhaled deeply several times, and permitted his dentist to go on with treatment.
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant wasn’t one to neglect his dental hygiene, reportedly going into battle with a toothbrush as his only baggage. Nonetheless, he was brought down by his heavy cigar smoking, coupled with the fact that oral cancer screenings were unheard of at the time.
Grant first experienced oral pain in the summer of 1884 but only had a cursory examination until a formal exam in October of that year. Eventually, Grant experienced severe weight loss and such difficulty breathing that he had to sleep sitting up. He died at age 63, just a little over a year after experiencing his first tongue and throat cancer symptoms.
Grover Cleveland
While in office, Grover Cleveland also suffered from oral cancer. But in his case, he was able to get timely treatment. After undergoing a secret surgery on a friend’s private yacht, he walked off the boat on his own and made a public appearance a little over a month later. He died fifteen years later of unrelated causes.
Teddy Roosevelt
One of Teddy Roosevelt’s signatures was his huge, even smile. He usually had his photograph taken smiling, an unusual practice at the time. After Roosevelt died at the relatively young age of 60, many scientists speculated whether his oral health could be to blame. They claimed that a tooth that had undergone root canal therapy was the location of a fatal infection. Though the “focal infection” theory was popular in its day, today we know that endodontic treatment does not pose any health risks.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Eisenhower’s unexpected dental mishap has provided fodder for generations of conspiracy theorists. While munching on a chicken wing during a visit to California, one of his crowns came off. He underwent emergency dental treatment that night. However, many diehards believe that this story was a cover for a clandestine meeting with aliens at Edwards Air Force Base. The theory is given further credence by the fact that the president’s dentists died without leaving records of this treatment.
Make Good Dental Hygiene an Important Part of Your Own Story
Make your own dental health a priority and schedule your routine preventive care today. Make an appointment online or call us at 630-629-5700.
