It is an interesting question, made even more pertinent by the abundance of nice pearly whites in the movies, and the contrast of Wormtongue's horrible teeth.
Maybe they used blades of grass like cats do to floss, or most probably they had rather primitive toothbrushes. I can imagine them with coarse, brown bristles savaging their teeth somewhere. Although I'm sure wild men and orcs wouldn't have given dental hygiene a second thought, the more established and civilised bunches such as the people of Minas Tirith and the Elves must have cleaned them somehow.
But maybe as illness didn't affect Elves, things such a tooth decay, cavities and gum disease would never occur? Their teeth probably stayed close to perfect, with minimal care. But now I'm speculating.
|