---
title: The Real Story Behind Washington’s Teeth
description: It's always a good idea to have a Plan-B. You might not want to think about it but what are your options during holiday travel or anytime you're traveling and you have a dental issue?
image: https://blog.dental.com/hubfs/George%20Washington%20Smile.jpg
---

[![Logo_White](https://blog.dental.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Dental/main/Logo_Color.png?width=300&name=Logo_Color.png "Logo_White")](https://dental.com/)

- [Sign in](https://member.dental.com/login)
- [Register Now](https://member.dental.com/sign-up)

# The Real Story Behind Washington’s Teeth

10.02.2025

| 2 min read

1. **He Never Had Wooden Teeth** Despite what many were taught in school, none of Washington’s dentures were made of wood. The myth likely arose because the ivory in his dentures stained over time, giving them a grainy, wood-like appearance.
2. **His Dentures Were a Painful Patchwork** Washington suffered from dental problems most of his life. By the time of his first presidential inauguration in 1789, he had only one natural tooth left. Over the years, he used at least four sets of dentures made from:

- **Human teeth** (some possibly purchased from enslaved people) 

- **Animal teeth** (including horse and cow) 

- **Hippopotamus ivory** 

- **Metals** like brass, lead, and gold 

These dentures were held together with springs and bolts, often causing discomfort and facial distortion. 

1. **He Bought Teeth from Enslaved People** Records from Mount Vernon show that Washington paid enslaved individuals for their teeth—likely for use in dentures, either his own or by his dentist, Jean Pierre Le Mayeur. This practice, while not uncommon in the 18th century, adds a darker layer to the story.
2. **His Dentist Was a Pioneer** John Greenwood, Washington’s personal dentist, crafted many of his dentures and even received Washington’s last remaining tooth as a keepsake. Greenwood emphasized hygiene and regularly repaired Washington’s dental gear.

### **Why It Matters** 

Washington’s dental struggles weren’t just physical—they shaped his public image. His tightly closed mouth in portraits wasn’t stoicism; it was pain. And the myth of wooden teeth, while false, reflects how we sanitize history to make it more palatable. 

[![Logo_Color](https://blog.dental.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Dental/main/Logo_Color.png?width=724&name=Logo_Color.png "Logo_Color")](https://blog.dental.com/)

- [Register Now](https://blog.teledentix.com/?__hstc=96971008.c23988f886d5524df3be96cd11732970.1646546776535.1647843941217.1648279252348.10&__hssc=96971008.4.1648279252348&__hsfp=1229075795)

- [For Dental Providers and Organizations](https://blog.teledentix.com/?__hstc=96971008.c23988f886d5524df3be96cd11732970.1646546776535.1647843941217.1648279252348.10&__hssc=96971008.4.1648279252348&__hsfp=1229075795)
- [Privacy Policy](https://blog.teledentix.com/?__hstc=96971008.c23988f886d5524df3be96cd11732970.1646546776535.1647843941217.1648279252348.10&__hssc=96971008.4.1648279252348&__hsfp=1229075795)

- [Terms and Conditions](https://blog.teledentix.com/?__hstc=96971008.c23988f886d5524df3be96cd11732970.1646546776535.1647843941217.1648279252348.10&__hssc=96971008.4.1648279252348&__hsfp=1229075795)
- [Contact Us](https://blog.teledentix.com/?__hstc=96971008.c23988f886d5524df3be96cd11732970.1646546776535.1647843941217.1648279252348.10&__hssc=96971008.4.1648279252348&__hsfp=1229075795)

Copyright 2022 Dental.com

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "dental.com",
    "url" : "https://blog.dental.com/author/dental-com"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2025-10-02T16:51:11.982Z",
  "datePublished" : "2025-10-02T16:51:11.000Z",
  "headline" : "The Real Story Behind Washington’s Teeth",
  "image" : [ "https://blog.dental.com/hubfs/George%20Washington%20Smile.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.dental.com/the-real-story-behind-washingtons-teeth",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blog.dental.com/hubfs/Dental/main/Logo_Color.png"
    },
    "name" : "Teledentix"
  }
}
```