Is there a call for a dentist?

[burrahobbit]

Actually, there was a lot of tooth decay before the invention of the sugar industry. Carbohydrates, particularly bread, are bad for your teeth.

Point conceded.

Hobbits: would have a sugar industry and lots of bread/carbohydrates beside. I don't see why they couldn't have toothbrushes, though I would expect many of them not to care.

I would expect the caring to lessen as you travel east, including the cities of Gondor. They live in at best the middle ages, I wouldn't expect many of them to be regular bathers.

Elves are not slain by disease, but I've never heard of anybody dying of bad breath. Probably they would need to (and would) brush. A person like Aragorn would probably brush when he was in a place like Rivendell, where such things would be available, but he would also realize that if he left them there when he went out ranging he could carry just that much more food, or that many more arrows.