Ancient Egyptians - Their Ancient Living and Dental Habits

Tooth ache, teeth disease, and tooth extractionof the ancient Egyptians.
procedures has long been around and practiced evenAncient Egyptians and Their Teeth
in ancient civilizations. In fact, it dates back to the oldThe greatest problem that ancient Egyptians faced
age where people are still not accustomed to brushingduring their time is teeth disease and tooth extraction.
or flossing their teeth. In the early 1700's through theBoth pharaohs and common farmers experience rapid
1800's, toothache was often treated by blacksmiths inteeth wear out, which eventually result to painful
front of a large audience. It was a custom back thenchronic infection. To remedy the problem, ancient
that toothache is cured in public.dental surgeons drain the abscesses using a hollow
Perhaps the most interesting study of teeth disease inreed.
history is those of the Egyptians. From autopsies madeAlso common that time was gum disease. In fact,
by archeologists, numerous evidences point to teethsome mummies found in Egypt still have their teeth
disease as one of the common causes of deathintact even after 2,000 years. This was mainly
among Egyptian mummies.because of the enormous tartar deposits on their
Ancient Egyptteeth.
The lives of the ancient Egyptians were shaped mainlyRestorative dentistry was also prevalent that time.
by their environment. The climate, land, trees, and riverThis was evidenced in a mummy found with three
were a great contribution to how they spend theirmissing teeth who had replaced them with substitute
everyday lives, be it for the good or bad. But in someteeth expertly attached to the adjacent teeth with gold
conditions, it is the environment that brings ill health towire.
their community.Modern Dental Health
When we say Egypt today, the first thought thatArcheologist and dentist today believe that even in the
come mind is the Nile River. Providing abundant supplyancient times people were already aware of the
of water to the civilizations living on its banks, itdiseases in their teeth and devised ways to remedy
maintains the fertile fields that run on its sides.them through their own style of teeth cleaning and
Overtime, the river has been a witness to thetooth extraction. This ancient manner of dental care is
sweetness and hostility of time and buried underneathonly an indication that dental health was already a
it are stories and mysteries of the ancient civilization.huge concern back then. Similarly, the wear patterns
But ancient Egypt has left the modern world with oneand cavities seem in the ancient mummies was an
great evidence that can unlock the secrets of theavenue for us to know about their ancient living and
past: its mummies. This religious way of preserving theeating habits.
dead has given us an incredible glimpse at the health