Napoleon's toothbrush, Queen Victoria's dental kit and primitive dentistry tools are 150 objects on show as part of a new exhibition in London.

From folk remedies and tooth fairies to barber-surgeons and professional dentists, Teeth tells the tale of man's pursuit of a pain-free mouth and the perfect smile.

The Wellcome Collection's exhibition, Teeth, runs from May 17 to September 16 and includes a pedal-operated 19th century drill, a spittoon, dentures made from hippopotamus ivory, tooth-whitening kits, and early toothbrushes made from hog hair and badger hair.

Visitors will also see a 19th century barber-surgeon chair, for patients to sit in while enduring - with a razor and other crude tools - limb amputation and teeth pulling as well as hair trimming.