Napolean’s toothbrush (c. 1795)
This toothbrush, with its gilt handle, horsehair bristles, and the initial “N” topped by a crown on its base, once cleaned the teeth of France’s notorious ruler, Napolean Bonaparte. Like George Washington, Napolean Bonaparte was obsessed with oral care. Unlike Washington, his teeth were healthy and strong. Napolean’s concern with hygiene, especially his teeth, is well documented. His valet Constant wrote, “…for his teeth, he used a toothpick made from boxwood and a brush dipped in opiate.”
This toothbrush isn’t the only relic of Napolean’s obsession with hygiene. Fondation Napoléon has a ‘nécessaire’ kit once belonging to Napolean. The kit includes a rugine, used to scrape tartar off teeth, a plugger to pack fillings into cavities, scissors, lancets, vials with engraved golden caps, and tweezers. Each necessaire kit Napolean owned contained at least one gold or silver toothbrush, but it isn’t confirmed that this toothbrush was in a kit.
