One of the most enduring myths about George Washington is that his dentures were made of wood. While this tall tale isn't backed up in truth, Washington's problems with his dental hygiene are long-chronicled and are likely to have cause the leader great pain. What we do know is that Washington turned to dentures made of hippo ivory and human 'slave teeth' to try and cure his woes. The true story is revealed in an in-depth article by William Maloney, clinical associate professor of dentistry at New York University for The Conversation.