Believe it or not, people of ancient times believed a tooth worm caused the pain of a toothache! The worm supposedly bored its way into the tooth. If the pain was severe, it meant that the worm was thrashing about; but if the aching stopped, the worm was resting.
And it wasn’t just one culture that thought this. People all over the world with no contact with one another believed in the tooth worm. It was only at the dawn of the 18th Century that this belief fell out of favor.
So, if there was a worm in your tooth, how would you get rid of it? Well, with other animals and vegetables of course!
Bee
People smeared their aching teeth with honey and waited all night with tweezers in hand, ready to pluck out the tooth worm.
Donkey
In ancient Greece, donkey milk was used as a mouthwash to strengthen the gums and teeth.
Frog
Besides spitting in a frog’s mouth for toothache relief, these web-footed creatures were applied to a person’s cheek or head on the side of the ailing tooth.
Onion
In the Middle Ages, a slice of onion was applied to the ear on the side of the aching tooth.
Thank goodness for dentists!
Have you ever believed something silly? Leave a comment telling us.