Dental Progress: The Oral Hygiene of Pilgrims & Native Americans

From the very start, Thanksgiving has always shown gratitude for oral health. That’s only natural – healthy mouths with strong teeth add to anyone’s quality of life! Still, how people show appreciation for their smiles has changed since the days of Plymouth Rock. Your kids should note those changes as this year’s Turkey Day arrives. So, here’s a primer on how the oral hygiene of pilgrims and Native Americans differs from today’s modern standards.

How Did Oral Care Work for Pilgrims & Natives?

To help your kids appreciate their teeth, tell them about oral hygiene for pilgrims and natives. They’ll likely be surprised and fascinated by the truth.

You see, the pilgrims and their native neighbors had primitive dental care. They often relied on toothbrushes made from hog hair attached to the ends of twigs. Some natives also scrubbed their teeth with sage – an evergreen shrub now used as a seasoning. While these methods were somewhat helpful, they only staved off the worst effects of bad oral hygiene.

Naturally, the pilgrims and Native Americans suffered their share of dental problems. Lack of resources and education led them to suffer high levels of tooth decay, cavities, etc.

How Does It Work in the Present?

Once you’ve outlined colonial dental care, emphasize how today’s oral hygiene stands a cut above. Doing so should help your children value their smiles even more.

Since the first Thanksgiving, dentistry has made major progress. Most people now use soft-bristled toothbrushes and fluoridated toothpaste to clean their teeth, not twigs. They also better understand how to care for their smiles, so they have healthier mouths than early colonists did.

Naturally, this modern shift should be a major source of gratitude on Thanksgiving. We wouldn’t have strong and beautiful smiles without it!

Oral Care Tips for This Thanksgiving

To help your kids put their dental gratitude into practice, have them stick to the following tips:

• Every morning and evening, brush for two minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Remember to floss and rinse with mouthwash daily.
• Get dental checkups from a dentist at least twice yearly.
• Go easy on soda and other sugary drinks.
• If possible, avoid hard and sticky foods, especially caramel corn and peanut brittle.
• Don’t indulge in unhealthy dental habits – chewing on ice, using teeth as tools, etc.

As Thanksgiving arrives, remember the oral hygiene of pilgrims and Native Americans. You and your kids can give thanks for how modern dentistry is even better!

About the Practice

Stroud Pediatric Dentistry is based in Willow Park, TX. Led by Drs. Casey Stroud and Michael Ball, our practice helps every child patient achieve a great smile. We make that happen by tailoring our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments to each kiddo’s smile and its needs! As a result, you can trust your little one to get healthy teeth and gums with us. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (817)-441-2425.