While growing up, you may recall learning that our first president, George Washington, had wooden teeth. We could ponder all of the problems of having teeth made from wood – how about a splinter on your tongue? Ouch! However, like many good legends, this one is false.

It’s true that Washington had lost most of his teeth by the time he became president and had several sets of dentures. However, these dentures were made from gold, ivory, and even human and animal teeth. His dentures were still uncomfortable, even though they weren’t made from wood, which may explain why Washington always looks so stiff in all of his portraits. Just check out the dollar bill. Come to think of it, maybe this is what brought about the legend of Washington’s wooden teeth. Why else would he always look so uncomfortable?

On a side note, some say that because Washington’s dentures were held together with tiny springs, he was forced to clench down to keep his mouth from popping open. But, then again, maybe this is just another legend.