Did George Washington Really Have Wooden Teeth?
Did you know President’s Day was originally established in 1885 in recognition of our first President, George Washington? Still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the federal government, President’s Day was traditionally celebrated on February 22, Washington’s actual day of birth. Today we celebrate President’s Day on the third Monday of February. While several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other important historical figures, Presidents’ Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents past and present. George Washington’s Wooden Teeth – The story about George Washington’s infamous wooden dentures arguably remains the most widespread and enduring myth about Washington’s personal life. While Washington certainly suffered from dental problems and wore multiple sets of dentures composed of a variety of materials—including ivory, gold, and lead—wood was never used in Washington’s dentur...