what were george washington's teeth made of

George Washington’s dentures were not made of wood. They were made from a mix of materials including ivory, metal parts like gold, brass, lead, and springs, plus animal teeth and some human teeth.

What’s true

• The “wooden teeth” idea is a myth.

• Washington wore several sets of dentures over his life.

• Surviving and documented sets used materials such as hippopotamus or elephant ivory, lead, brass wires, steel springs, and teeth from animals and humans.

Why people talk about it

The most unsettling part is that some of the human teeth may have come from enslaved people or other purchased teeth, though exact sourcing can’t always be proven from the surviving records.

Quick scoop

So the simple answer is: a mixture of ivory, metal, animal teeth, and human teeth — not wood.