Technically, the answer is “no.” Vikings didn't have the implements we use today to actually “brush” their teeth with toothpaste and toothbrushes. However, they did clean their teeth regularly. From what we know about Viking history, these individuals were some of the cleanest groups across Europe.
Vikings were extremely clean and regularly bathed and groomed themselves. They were known to bathe weekly, which was more frequently than most people, particularly Europeans, at the time. Their grooming tools were often made of animal bones and included items such as combs, razors, and ear cleaners.
Contrary to popular belief, archaeological evidence suggests that Vikings paid significant attention to their dental health. Toothpicks made of bone and wooden tools were quite common.
According to scholars, Vikings commonly washed their hair and beards using a soap containing lye. This soap served two purposes. It helped to keep Vikings clean and wash away the dirt, blood, and other messes which built up during escapades. However, it also helped to dye the hair a brighter shade of blonde.
The Vikings were quite particular about their hygiene practices. They would bathe at least once per week, and some sources even suggest that some would take daily baths. In addition, the Vikings would brush their hair with combs made from bone or antlers and use primitive tweezers to remove unwanted body hair.
The Vikings needed all the energy that they could get in the form of fat – especially in winter. Meat, fish, vegetables, cereals and milk products were all an important part of their diet. Sweet food was consumed in the form of berries, fruit and honey. In England the Vikings were often described as gluttonous.
Vikings also bathed at least once a week—much more frequently than other Europeans of their day—and enjoyed dips in natural hot springs.
"They did it on purpose, to mark that they belonged to a special group. Or maybe they were slaves. This is a very unique and interesting find." One hypothesis is that they could show an individual's ability to resist pain.
Combs were actually a staple accessory that most vikings carried around with other every-day supplies. They were typically made of bone, and were used on both their head and beard. These hand-made multi purpose tools were used to keep the beard and hair untangled, and free of any dirt, grime, or bugs.
In Viking society, certain physical traits were considered attractive in both men and women. These features included light-colored eyes, fair skin, and blonde or light brown hair. A strong, healthy, and fit physique was also highly valued, as it was an indicator of good health, strength, and fertility.
The team found smallpox - caused by the variola virus - in 11 Viking-era burial sites in Denmark, Norway, Russia, and the UK. They also found it in multiple human remains from Öland, an island off the east coast of Sweden with a long history of trade.
How Often Did Vikings Eat? Unlike modern Norwegians, Vikings tended to only eat two meals per day. These were known as dagmal and nattmal, which meant a day meal and night meal.
They all knew that to get such fashionable carving, the Viking warriors had to experience an unpleasant time. Because whatever it might be, it was a form of tattoo into the bones. A discovery of skeletons in thе Viking cemetery аt Kopparsvik, Gotland also had the same teeth carving.
The average height of Vikings as found by researchers and scholars, varied depending on a number of factors, including their age and gender. Typically, the average male Viking would usually be between 5 foot 7 and 5 foot 9, while the average female would be between 5 foot 1 and 5 foot 3.
They were usually on the upper front teeth, and these grooves could be thin or deep, mostly horizontal but in a few cases vertical. Many were just straight lines, but we could also see crescent-shaped marks as well. The first major study of the phenomenon was made by Caroline Arcini in 2005.
The Vikings, just like other human races, drank water and used it for their daily needs. They drank alcohol whenever water was scarce or during a feast. Beer and Meads were the popular choices. Beer was produced from fermented liqueur while meads were produced from honey.
Blinded eyes probably meant a long fringe. The women's hair was usually long. It was probably tied into a knot on the back of the head, and the knot may have been decorated with coloured tape, which was braided into the hair. The women also wore a bonnet or a scarf around their heads.
However, experts believe Vikings were quite large, muscular people, capable of striking fear into the hearts of their enemies as a result of their strength and size. The physical build of the Vikings was likely to be somewhat similar to our own, but with significantly more mass and muscle.
Dreadlocks were seen as both fashionable and functional by the Vikings. The men who spent much of their time in battle and traveling needed to keep their long hair from getting in the way during their raids. Once the dreads were made, they did not require much maintenance.
In Viking society, women wore their hair long as a sign of status and to be appreciated for its beauty. Naturally, these hard-working women tied their hair back, braided it, or wore it up to keep it out of their way while they worked the loom or performed their other daily tasks.
Excavated Viking skeletons that date from AD 800 – 1050 showed deep, horizontal grooves filed into the front teeth. It is speculated tooth carvings were pigmented red in order to intimidate foes in battle. The reasons for the tooth filing is not certain, but may have been a symbol of achievement.
The research showed that caries was almost non-existent, but the subjects had lost about ten percent of their teeth before death. The remaining teeth showed signs of extreme wear from the mostly unprocessed and coarse diet.
These two episodes (and many others) suggest that linen underwear was worn to bed. It's been suggested that very poor men did not use underclothing and thus may have slept naked.
Interesting enough, according to the BBC Primary History site, there were no bathrooms in the Viking home. Most people probably washed in a wooden bucket or the nearest stream. Instead of toilets, people used cesspits, which are holes dug outside for toilet waste.
Play is not a recent development in history in fact from grave goods and the sagas, we learn that Vikings played board games avidly, they carved dolls and toys for their children, played dice and gambled as well as partaking in boisterous sports at their feasts and gatherings.