Thanksgiving is just around the corner. We are all looking forward to the delicious meals that we will share with our friends and family. The options are endless: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and much more! As this exciting holiday approaches, it is the perfect time to learn a little bit more about the lives of the pilgrims and native Americans, including how they cared for their smiles. Read on to learn more about what oral hygiene looked like for people at this time in history.
Diet for the Pilgrims and Native Americans
The Native Americans were expert hunters and gatherers. Their diet consisted of mostly corn, beans, squash, fish, and wild game. They also ate a lot of fresh fruit and nuts. This helps to keep the plaque off their teeth. Since their diet was so high in fiber, Native Americans, on average, has well-maintained teeth and gums.
On the other hand, the pilgrims who first colonized America relied more on preserved food, as they embarked on long journeys. They stocked their ships with salted dried meat, dried fruit, and dried biscuits. All of these foods were terrible for the teeth, as they easily stick and lead to tooth decay. Since water distillation wasn’t very good at the time, the sailors didn’t drink a lot of it. Drinking water could easily result in sickness and even death. They mostly drank beer and wine because it was safer. Due to their acidic, this meant stained teeth and tooth decay.
Oral Hygiene for Pilgrims and Native Americans
Native Americans would clean their teeth using chewsticks. These were twigs that were frayed on the end to be used for brushing. The other end could be sharpened and used as a toothpick. Additionally, Native Americans at the time would chew on pine needles and fresh herbs, like sage and mint, for extra freshness.
For the pilgrims, things weren’t so fresh. Toothbrushes were not widely produced until about a century after they came to America. The sailors were left with very unhealthy oral conditions.
In the end, Native Americans have much healthier teeth than the pilgrims after their long voyage across the ocean. Once thing that we call all be grateful for this Thanksgiving is a healthy smile!
About the Practice
Dr. Scott Parker earned his dental doctorate from Loma Linda University. Since then, he has been committed to continuing education to keep his knowledge and skills sharp. Currently, he is a proud member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, and Tri-County Dental Society. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit his website or call (909) 795-6019.