Why Hitler Rarely Smiled

Adolf Hitler, possibly pouting over an
upcoming dentist appointment.

During World War II, one of the most sought after bits of information the Allies wanted about Adolf Hitler, the megalomaniacal leader of the Third Reich, in addition to his whereabouts and plans for the future were his dental records. While the Allies were not particularly concerned about whether or not the dictator had been flossing every day, the Fuehrer's dental records were one of the only ways they would be able to accurately identify his remains in the event of his demise. Fortunately for them, Hitler had a secret that would end up helping them in the long run: Hitler was terrified of going to the dentist. 


When most think of Adolf Hitler, the tyrannical supreme chancellor of Nazi Germany, they usually don't think of a guy who was scared of going to the dentist. According to a medical review of Hitler's dental records in addition to notes from his personal dentist, Johannes Blaschke, Hitler was terrified of going to the dentist and evidence of this could be seen in his mouth. Additional reports claim that Hitler would start crying before he ever got to the dentist's chair. According to a story from Daily Mail, Hitler had his dentist extend a relatively routine root canal procedure to take 8 days because "he couldn't stand the pain." The dentist reported that Hitler had "terribly bad breath, abscesses and gum disease" and that he had to fill ten cavities in his mouth in 1944 alone. His dentist attributed the terrible state of his teeth to a very poor diet early in life in addition to a failure to keep up with his personal oral hygiene.


With advances in dental technology, there is no longer any reason to fear the dentist's chair. Still, the very best way to help limit your time in the dentist's chair is by regular brushing, flossing, and a recommended dental cleaning with exam every 6 months. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Larry James, D.D.S., and stay on top of top of your dental health.


Here is a special message from Dr. Larry James, D.D.S. regarding this topic: 


"My father fought in WW II. My godparents were Russian Jews. My godfather was son to the last candymaker to Czar Nicholas. This is an interesting point from history.  We can't ignore the past, even when it's unpleasant. However, we can lose any sympathy for this man having abscessed teeth."



For a look at a drawing Hitler's dental records, click here. Disclaimer: it isn't pretty.