We love the spring. Back East the cherry blossoms are blooming. In the Las Vegas area, we may even be graced with a fresh shower or two that will make the desert bloom.
Speaking of blooms, in the springtime, tourists from all over the world visit Washington, D.C. to view the annual blossoming of the cherry trees and visit our nation’s capital. Thinking about the cherry blossoms made us wonder about our founding fathers, including George Washington, our nation’s first President.
Being a Las Vegas dentist, of course, our thoughts turned to pondering: Did George Washington really have wooden teeth? Can you imagine?
Oral Hygiene Yesterday and Today
We had to turn to History to do a little research on oral hygiene in the 1700s to find out the truth. Here’s the short answer: George Washington did not have wooden teeth. Researchers tell us that oral hygiene was not high on the list of the future President’s list of things to do; so the poor man began losing teeth in his twenties. He wore dentures throughout his life and they certainly were not today’s form-fitting, comfortable appliances.
By the time he was inaugurated in 1789, President Washington had just one tooth left! He took the oath of office wearing painful dentures made of ivory and gold. The dentures were in no way close to what we have today; historical records say they caused an unsightly bulge in Washington’s jaw that caused real pain.
Here’s some good news: Modern dentistry has come a long way from the awkward and painful techniques used in the 18th century!
Las Vegas Cosmetic Dentistry – We’ve Come So Far!
While we hope every child has the opportunity to be President, when it comes to oral hygiene, let’s not use George Washington as a role model! Modern dentistry offers a sophisticated set of pain-free cosmetic procedures designed to keep you looking your best. When coupled with regular oral hygiene including brushing and flossing, and semi-annual check-ups, our patients end up with a much better outcome than poor old George Washington.
The American Dental Association (ADA) links good oral hygiene to improvements in American’s overall health and wellbeing. Thanks to their research, we all now know that good oral hygiene can prevent disease and illness. American dentistry has allowed us unprecedented treatment options to keep your smile bright, white, and clean. Today all Americans can avoid the fate of George Washington’s teeth by just practicing a few preventative steps every day.
Your Las Vegas cosmetic dentist, Dr. Hadley, offers preventative care, cosmetic dentistry, and restorative procedures. If poor George Washington were alive today, and if he followed our recommendations, he would have had all or most of his teeth when he took over the White House. If he still had dentures, today’s modern cosmetic procedures would have made him grin widely and comfortably in all of his portraits. Isn’t it nice that we can benefit from centuries of research?
The talented dental team at Smiles by Dr. Hadley is here to help you and your family stay healthy by practicing good oral hygiene. We can straighten misaligned teeth, help your body correct gum disease, or restore missing teeth – to name a few of our talents – in a state-of-the-art modern dental facility. How can we help you brighten your smile today?