How Did We end up with Gold Teeth? The Weird History of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns – or sometimes called dental caps – are prosthetic devices places over broken teeth to strengthen and improve their appearance. Crowns are used to prevent weakened teeth from fracturing, as teeth replacements, or to cover a root canal, dental implant or a weak tooth. Crowns help keep teeth functional, and prevent improper bite alignment from occurring. How – and when […]
The Truth about George Washington’s Teeth
George Washington, the first President of the United States and revolutionary general, had dental problems his entire life. When he was inaugurated President in 1789, he only had one real tooth remaining in his mouth. A man known for his strength and resolve, Washington’s great oral pain sometimes made it quite difficult for the renowned […]
Horse Hair? The Strange History of Dental Floss
Humans have used tools since before the birth of modern, written history. From fire to arrowheads, we’ve always looked for ways to improve our lives and advance ourselves. Did you know that this ingenuity extends into our oral health care? Before modern toothbrushes were invented, ancient humans would use “chewsticks” to clean their teeth. But […]
How did Native Americans and Pilgrims Care for Their Teeth?
As Thanksgiving approaches, we look back to the discovery of the new world and observe how two cultures came together to share in their humanity and celebrate the harvest over a great feast. We know about the meal – but what about the clean up? Did the Native Americans or pilgrims take care of their […]
The Sweet History of Halloween Candy
Did you know that Halloween hasn’t always involved trick-or-treating for candy? Actually, Halloween used to be undertaken as The Festival of Samhain, which celebrated the harvest and the Celtic New Year – which started on November 1st. So, how did Halloween turn into an all out candy grab? Well, it started right here in America, […]
The Crazy (and Disgusting) History of Mouthwash
For as long as humans have been using tools, we’ve been cleaning our teeth! From toothbrushes made out of sticks, to dental floss made out of horse hair, we have always been mindful of our oral health. But what about mouthwash? When did we start swishing liquid around hoping for cleaner mouths? Ancient Roman Mouthwash […]
