9 Ridiculous Urban Legends We All Believed

Throughout America, there is a widespread belief that George Washington had wooden teeth. For the longest time, American history books reported this legend as fact. The truth to the presidential dentures is slightly more disturbing than some mahogany chompers.

The President's teeth started falling out early in his life and wore at least four different sets of false teeth during his life. Despite the persistent legend, not one of these sets contained any wood at all. During his inauguration, Washington wore a set made from ivory, brass and gold. These were built for him by his dentist John Greenwood, in return the President gave him the gift of his last natural tooth.

While ivory was commonly used in the 1700's, it's believed a later set of dentures were created with a much less appropriate substance. Multiple reports have stated that Washington used real teeth from animals and humans, including some acquired from slaves.

The origin of this urban legend is unclear, but some attribute it to how the ivory aged over time, giving the appearance of wood. Either way, it was stated as a fact for so long that it's hard to make people realise that the President did not actually have a mouth full of wood.