Medieval belief that tooth decay was caused by worms (!) is likely related to the presence of worm-like or serpentine lesions of syphilis; both bad teeth and bad skin attributable to Treponema pallidum

(Marylynn Salomon: Medieval Syphilis and Treponemal Disease, p. 63)

Learn something new every day, eh?

#syphilis #histodons #medieval #BadTeeth