Dentistry in the medieval period was a challenging and often painful experience, reflecting the limited medical knowledge and resources of the time. Unlike today, the absence of anesthetics and modern sterilization techniques made dental procedures quite distressing and even dangerous. Medieval people did care about their teeth, using primitive but effective methods to maintain dental hygiene. They used abrasive substances like mint, pepper, and salt to clean their teeth, similar to how toothpaste functions today, despite not fully understanding the concept of dental plaque. Dental problems were prevalent among the rich due to their higher sugar consumption, leading to more frequent tooth decay. However, the poor often faced tooth erosion from using their teeth as tools. Medieval treatments for toothaches included remedies based on the now-debunked theory of the tooth worm, which was thought to cause dental pain by burrowing into teeth. Henbane seeds were burned and the smoke inhaled to supposedly kill these tooth worms, though this method was toxic and dangerous. Read moreSection: NewsVideosHistoryAncient TraditionsRead Later