answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

George Washington suffered from poor oral health most of his life. His dental problems began in his early twenties, when he was elected at the age of fifty-seven in 1789 he only had one real tooth remaining. The reasons were general bad health, small pox, the use of abrasive dentifrices and the poor level of dentistry during his time. It is however untrue that he had wooden teeth.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

George Washington did not have wooden teeth. His dental problems began in his early twenties, when he was elected at the age of fifty-seven in 1789 he only had one real tooth remaining1. The dentures he wore during the inauguration were made by Dr. John Greenwood known has the "Father of Modern Dentistry, carved from hippopotamus ivory and gold. One of these sets was donated to the University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore, who in turn donated the upper denture to the Smithsonian in 1976. The dentures were stolen at a storage facility and never recovered; the bottom denture is housed at the George Washington Gallery inside The Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry. The "Greenwood Dentures" are the most famous created for the President; four of these remain to this day. Three other sets are also all lower dentures located at the New York Academy of Medicine, at the Mt. Vernon Visitors Center and a small segment on display at the Royal London Hospital and Archives and Museum. This where is it gets tricky, many different people made or adjusted dentures for Washington. Dr, Greenwood was just the most famous. Here is a direct quote from the fine folks at Mt. Vernon

Washington had several different sets of dentures, only one of which is still complete - and the complete set is here at Mount Vernon. Our set is made from human & cow teeth and elephant ivory, set in a lead base, with heavy metal springs. Because of the way they would have fit within his mouth, we do not believe that Washington wore this set when eating or talking. They were probably entirely "ornamental," for occasions like making silent ceremonial appearances or having his portrait painted.

He also owned other, more "functional" dentures, which could have been worn while eating or talking.

During the last ten years of Washington's life (1789-1799), a highly respected New York dentist, Dr. John Greenwood, made for the president at least two complete denture sets and several partial sets. In addition, in 1796 a man named James Gardette made Washington a set of dentures from hippopotamus ivory.


The story of wooden teeth is interesting but alas according to Steve Swank the curator of the National Museum of Dentistry no proof of wooden teeth ever being made in America exists. This is just one of the fanciful myths about the first President of the United States. Source: Kentonville.com

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

He began losing his teeth at the age of 22, and had lost practically all of them by age 57. He seems to have begun using partial dentures in his 30s, and certainly had some during the American Revolution (age 43 to 51).

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

It was not uncommon for people to loose teeth in that time. John Adams claimed that he lost his teeth cracking open Brazil nuts; however, it's more likely that the medicine of the time had more effect. However Washington had problems with his teeth, and lost his first one at the age of 22, and only had 1 real one left by the time he became president (when he was about 57).

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

His dental problems began in his early twenties, when he was elected at the age of fifty-seven in 1789 he only had one real tooth remaining. Source: Kentonville.com

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

Standard tooth decay. It started when he was 22.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

because he was born with bad teeth and he could not talk that much

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

2012....when the earth was wiped out by a huge earthqauke and the only person left was George Washington but his teeth were all gone so basically no one knows how or when he lost his teeth

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

he was 62 years old.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What age did George Washington loose all his teeth?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about American Government
Related questions

What age did George Washington get fake teeth?

15


Which founding father had all of his teeth pulled by the age of 57?

Losing teeth was not at all uncommon in those days, but the person this question is looking for was George Washington. He was famous for his wooden false teeth.


Did George Washington lose his teeth due to cocaine?

No- cocaine was not a factor. In Washington's day little was known about how to prevent tooth decay and dentists did not know much of anything about filling teeth. Most people lost most of their teeth at an early age .


What was George Washington's age at inauguration?

George Washington was 57 at the time of his first inauguration.


Is George Washington Carver related to George Washington?

No, George Washington Carver was not related to George Washington; he was merely named after George Washington, or possibly Booker T. Washington, who hired him at the age of 32 to teach agriculture.


When did George Washington farther die?

George Washington's father, Augustine Washington, died at the age of 49. This was when George Washington was only 11 years old.


How old was George Washington when he got dentures?

He began losing his teeth around the age of 22. He appears to have lost the remainder of his teeth by the time he became President (age 57). He had already had partial dentures made as early as age 45 (1777), during the Revolutionary War.


At what age did George Washington get smallpox?

George Washington was 20 years old when he got smallpox.


Did George Washington have a phone at age 16?

no, george washington did not have a phone.


How did George Washington's dad die?

From attack in 1743, at the age of 49. George Washington had to be raised by his older brother, Lawrence.


Why where George Washington teeth made out of wood?

George Washington, the first US President, did not have wooden teeth, although he had lost all but one of his own teeth by the age of 57 when he became President. Washington had several pairs of dentures, none wooden. The pair he wore when he was inaugurated were made from carved hippopotamus ivory and gold. They were made by Dr. John Greenwood, known as the "Father of Modern Dentistry".


What was George Washington's age at his inauguration?

George Washington was 30 years old when he married Martha Curtis