During the Middle Ages, doctors used roasted mouse paste to treat toothaches.

The claim asserts that during the Middle Ages, doctors used roasted mouse paste to treat toothaches. Breaking this down, the key components are: 1) the time period (Middle Ages), 2) the use of roasted mouse paste, and 3) its application for toothache treatment. The search results and historical sources consistently indicate that the use of crushed or powdered mice as a remedy for toothaches is documented mainly in ancient Egyptian and Roman medical practices.iansmithdental.comiansmithdental.com5 Weird Dental Treatments Throughout Historytoday.uic.edutoday.uic.eduPain and suffering of toothache in the Dark Ages of dentistry

For example, ancient Egyptians believed that applying dead mouse paste could relieve toothache pain, and Roman toothpaste recipes included powdered mouse brains.iansmithdental.comiansmithdental.com5 Weird Dental Treatments Throughout History However, none of the sources attribute this practice to the Middle Ages (roughly 5th to late 15th century). Instead, medieval European dental treatments were quite different and often involved herbal remedies, cauterization, or rudimentary surgical interventions.

The claim conflates ancient practices with medieval ones without evidence. Additionally, the sources note that such mouse-based treatments were ineffective or even harmful.

Therefore, the claim is inaccurate in its temporal attribution and oversimplifies historical dental practices. While unusual animal-based remedies existed in antiquity, there is no reliable documentation supporting their use by medieval doctors for toothaches.