How Native Americans Cared for Their Teeth before the First Thanksgiving - Smiles Business Services, LLC (2024)

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How Native Americans Cared for Their Teeth before the First Thanksgiving - Smiles Business Services, LLC? ›

All in all, the Wampanoag and other native tribes likely enjoyed better dental health. Most used “chew sticks” to keep their teeth clean, much like a modern toothbrush. They also chewed mint and other herbs to freshen their breath. And they rubbed charcoal on their teeth – an early form of teeth whitening.

Natural Toothcare Techniques

Native Americans cleaned their teeth by using chewsticks and chewing on fresh herbs to cleanse their teeth and gums. Chewsticks were twigs that had two uses: one end was frayed by a rock and used for brushing, while the other end was sharpened and used as a tooth pick.

Some of the early techniques in these cultures included chewing on bark or sticks with frayed ends, feathers, fish bones and porcupine quills. They used materials like silver, jade and gold to repair or decorate their teeth.

Since toothbrushes were not introduced into the US until 1885, they both had to use items of the land to clean their teeth. Both the pilgrims and the Native Americans used things such as animal hair tied to a twig, needles from a pine tree, or animal bones as toothbrushes or floss.

In fact Native Americans are thought to have healthier teeth than the pilgrims.

For example, there is a special type of tooth called a talon cusp. Between 1 and 6 percent of people alive today have this unique variation and it's related to what's known as the Uto-Aztecan premolar, which is found only in Native American populations.

Certain Native American tribes, such as the Cherokee, throw a fallen baby tooth onto the roof while calling to a beaver to give them a strong new tooth. Other tribes, such as the Dene Yellowknives, put their baby teeth in straight trees, encouraging the new tooth to grow in as straight as the trunk.

Left unchecked, you can develop a bad taste in your mouth and also an unpleasant odor. The plaque on your teeth will continue to build up without being brushed or flossed off. Then, it will keep breaking down the enamel. The early stages of tooth decay can set in.

Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Floss regularly. Visit your dentist routinely for a checkup and cleaning. Tell the dentist about any medical conditions you have and medications you take.

What did Teeth Look Like in the 1800s? Teeth didn't look as good in the 1800s as they do today. Newly discovered treatment methods of the time included silver fillings, rubber denture bases, and porcelain inlays.

What did Native Americans do for toothache? ›

Instead of leaves, Comanches and other Native Americans chewed the tree's bark to dull a throbbing tooth. Warty, knobby spines cover the trunks of older trees — hence its other vernacular names of Hercules' club and prickly ash. Four species of Hercules' club, prickly ash or tickle-tongue range in Texas.

Many of the colonists fell ill. They were probably suffering from scurvy and pneumonia caused by a lack of shelter in the cold, wet weather. Although the Pilgrims were not starving, their sea-diet was very high in salt, which weakened their bodies on the long journey and during that first winter.

Native Americans used pine needles as an abrasive material to clean debris from teeth as well as freshen breath. A tuft of pine needles chewed for a little bit will leave your breath piney fresh, and you may get a small amount of vitamin C.

Teeth Around the World: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

With a DMFT (decayed, missing, or filled teeth) index score of 0.4, Danish citizens have pretty perfect teeth. Germany, Finland, Sweden, and the UK all have scores below 1.0, making them the five countries with the healthiest teeth.

NAHC provides dental care to community members regardless of tribal affiliations or ethnicity. Our dental providers have dedicated their career to ensuring that the best dental care is provided for all those in need, not just to those who can afford it.

Before the Toothbrush

Aside from diet, early Native Americans used chewsticks and chewed fresh herbs to keep their teeth clean and healthy. Chewsticks are twigs with one frayed end to chew and clean the teeth and one pointy end to use as a toothpick, and herbs like mint, cucacua, and sage were great for fresh breath.

All-Natural Remedies among Native Americans

All in all, the Wampanoag and other native tribes likely enjoyed better dental health. Most used “chew sticks” to keep their teeth clean, much like a modern toothbrush. They also chewed mint and other herbs to freshen their breath.

Foreign substances were removed from the teeth with thorns or small pieces of wood. In the Badianus manuscript [illustrated] we have a reference to the use of ashes (as a fine abrasive) and white honey, which were applied to the teeth and then the teeth were polished with a cloth.