When you envision a pirate, who do you think of? For many people, the fictional character Captain Jack Sparrow is the first one who comes to mind. Actor Johnny Depp went all out portraying the way pirates lived, including gold implants and dirty teeth. But was this how pirates’ teeth really used to look?
Apart from Captain Jack Sparrow, there are some other famous pirates who traveled the sea. Here are a few of them:
- Sir Francis Drake: Also known by Queen Elizabeth I as “my pirate,” Drake was sent by England to attack Spanish shipping. He also was the first English captain to sail around the world. Drake became a hero when he returned to England after raiding Spanish vessels filled with treasure.
- Henry Morgan: One of the most famous pirates of all time, Morgan is known for his brutal raids. Morgan’s most infamous invasion occurred in Cuba where he locked an entire village inside a church and went on to raid the whole town.
- Blackbeard: Born Edward Teach, Blackbeard is famous for scaring his enemies by coiling smoking fuses into his long, braided facial hair. He also captured many ships and raided Charleston, South Carolina. The movie Pirates of the Caribbean is loosely based on his adventures.
These pirates became famous from their travels across the ocean, but were any of them famous for their oral health?
How pirates took care of their teeth
In the 17th and early 18th centuries, there was really no oral hygiene for pirates, thus they ran into extreme dental problems. If pirates cleaned their teeth, which was not common, they did so by chewing on a stick. The wooden chew stick dates back to the 18th century. Because pirates spent most of their time out in the middle of the ocean, chew sticks were hard to come by. Since there was no such thing as a dental professional, a toothbrush, or any form of dental treatment, pirates’ teeth were disgusting. When a pirate would get a cavity, they wouldn’t know until it hurt, and by then they would let the natural decay of the tooth take over.
Pirates’ mouths weren’t the only part about them in bad shape; their hygiene was just as repulsive. Pirates had a limited supply of fresh water, so they would bathe in the ocean. Taking a dip in the ocean doesn’t sound all that bad, but they would often time use whale blubber as soap. Not only were pirates walking around smelling like whale blubber, but they also ran into many diseases. Modern medicine wasn’t around yet, so it was common for pirates to get and spread diseases that include syphilis, measles, and smallpox. Although pirates would spend time cleaning the ship, there was only so much they could do to take care of themselves.
As you can see, pirates didn’t take care of their teeth, but they also didn’t have much of a choice. Dental care has come a long way since the Golden Age of Piracy, and we can attribute that to the creation and advancement of modern dental health care.
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