Bad Breath was a Big Deal in Medieval England

March 1, 2022

Shila

In medieval England, people didn’t have much knowledge of cavities or gum disease, but they did put a large emphasis on having fresh breath. This is because, not knowing how germs work, they believed bad breath was the actual cause of disease in the mouth.

The Fresh Breath of Medieval England Literary Characters

Almost all dental care in Medieval England was centered around smells. This even made it into the Canterbury Tales, where the characters chewed cardamom and licorice to maintain fresh-smelling breath. A mixture of aniseed, cumin, and fennel was also recommended to women so they could keep their breath smelling clean.

Dental Woes of Medieval England

If the people of medieval England focused mainly on having fresh breath, what kind of dental problems were they dealing with? Fortunately, there wasn’t much sugar in their diets to cause cavities. Unfortunately, small pieces of stone often entered their bread from millstones used to grind flour, and that caused severe tooth erosion. In fact, most adults lost as many as four to six teeth in their lifetimes.

Treatment for Alleged “Tooth Worms”

When people experienced toothaches in medieval England, physicians believed they were caused by tiny worms, and remedies included myrrh and opium. However, these remedies were very expensive. So, a cheaper option included burning a candle near the tooth so the alleged worms would fall into a basin of water.Over the course of time, dental care has evolved from a primitive form of medicine to state-of-the-art diagnostics and modern age treatment. So, the next time you visit your dentist in Colorado Springs, be thankful you don’t live in medieval times!The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

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