William Shakespeare lived in the Elizabethan era in England, a time when, says Malvin E. Ring, DDS, a formal profession of dentistry did not exist. Not surprisingly, says Ring, the dental condition of the people of Shakespeare's time was deplorable.

 In the April CDA Journal (California), Ring says a good idea of the general state of health in the 16th century England can be found in the parish records of St. Botolph Without Aldgate, a London area not far from the Globe Theatre. From 1583 to 1599, 4,253 deaths were recorded, of which almost 2% were ascribed to teeth!

The many references to dental pain in Shakespeare's plays show he was familiar with toothache, Ring notes. In Much Ado About Nothing (Act 4, Scene 1), Leonato, governor of Messina, says, "Fore there was never yet philosopher, that could endure the toothache patiently." Other references are found in Cymbeline (Act 4, Scene 1) and in Othello, the Moor of Venice (Act 3, Scene 3).

In Shakespeare's time, toothache was attributed to two main causes: worms and an excess of humors or bodily fluids. That Shakespeare knew of this belief is shown by his long colloquy on toothache in Much Ado About Nothing (Act 3, Scene 2).

Many times, says Ring, Shakespeare alludes in his plays to the beauty of facial characteristics, not the least of which he believed were attractive teeth and smiles (see King Lear, Act 4, Scene 2, and The Merchant of Venice, Act 1, Scene 1).

Ring notes many more references in Shakespeare's works to toothache, losing teeth, cleaning teeth, and teeth as symbols of strength and well-being. Perhaps you'll be inspired to look for some references yourself!