History classes often cover the Colonial era, with familiar mentions of tricorner hats, muskets, and iconic figures. But have you ever wondered about the hygiene habits of that time? Beneath the layers of uniforms and wigs, colonists had some truly peculiar practices. Journey through time into the strange and often astonishing world of colonial hygiene practices that you’ll be glad have been left in the past.
Rotting Teeth Were Seen as a Sign of Wealth
During the Colonial era, sugar was a hot commodity. It wasn’t something that the average Joe could buy, which meant that it was reserved for the higher, wealthier classes. And while we now know that rotten teeth as a result of too much sugar is a bad thing, they didn’t think the same back in the day. Rotting teeth were actually seen as a sign of wealth, as it proved to the rest of the world that you could afford it.
Even those who couldn’t afford sugar tried to fake that their teeth were rotting. They tried to stain them with natural colorings, and scrubbed them with lye to create the illusion that they were rich.