Take Gum Tragacanth, one ounce; Pumice-stone, two drachms; Gum Arabic, half an ounce; and Crystals of Tartar, finely powdered, one ounce; dissolve the Gums in Rose-water, and adding to it the powder, form the whole into little sticks, which are to be dried slowly in the shade, and afterwards kept for use.
36. Or,
Take dried Leaves of Hyssop, Wild Thyme, and Mint, of each half an ounce; Roch Alum, prepared Hartshorn, and Salt, of each a drachm; calcine these ingredients together in a pot placed on burning coals; when sufficiently calcined, add of Pepper and Mastic, each half a drachm, and of Myrrh a scruple; reduce the whole into a fine powder, and make them into a proper consistence with Storax dissolved in Rose-water. Rub the teeth with a small bit of this Mixture every morning, and afterwards wash the mouth with warm Wine.
37. Or,
Dip a piece of clean rag in Vinegar of Squills, and rub the teeth and gums with it. This not only whitens, but fastens and strengthens the roots of the teeth, and corrects an offensive breath.
38. Or,
Take Rose-water, Syrup of Violets, clarified Honey, and Plantain-water, of each half an ounce; Spirit of Vitriol one ounce; mix them together. Rub the teeth with a linen rag moistened in this Liquor, and then rince the mouth with equal parts of Rose and Plantain-water.
39. Or,
Rub them well with Nettle or Tobacco Ashes, or rather with Vine Ashes mixed with a little Honey.
40. A Powder to cleanse the Teeth
Take prepared Coral and Dragons-blood, of each an ounce; Cinnamon and Cloves, of each six drachms; Cuttle-bone, and calcined Egg-shells, of each half an ounce; Sea Salt decrepitated, a drachm, all in fine powder: mix them in a marble mortar.
41. The following was communicated by Mr. Rae, Surgeon Dentist, in the Adelphi, London
Take of Cuttlefish-bone, and the finest prepared Chalk, each half an ounce; Peruvian Bark, and Florentine Iris Root, each two drachms: reduce the whole into a fine Powder, and mix them. This may be coloured with a little Rose Pink, and scented with a few drops of Oil of Cinnamon.
42. Or,
Take Pumice-stone prepared, Sealed Earth, and Red Coral prepared, of each an ounce; Dragons-blood, half an ounce; Cream of Tartar, an ounce and a half; Cinnamon, a quarter of an ounce; and Cloves, a scruple: beat the whole together into a Powder.
This Powder serves to cleanse, whiten, and preserve the Teeth; and prevents the accidents that arise from the collection of Tartar or any other foulness about them.
43. An efficacious Tooth-Powder
Take Myrrh, Roch Allum, Dragon's Blood, and Cream of Tartar, of each half an ounce; Musk, two grains; and make them into a very fine powder. This, though simple, is an efficacious dentifrice; but nothing of this kind should be applied too frequently to the teeth for fear of hurting the enamel.
44. A Powder to cleanse the Teeth
Take Pumice-Stone and Cuttle-fish Bone, of each half an ounce; Tartar vitriolated, and Mastich, of each a drachm; Oil of Rhodium four drops: mix all into a fine powder.
45. A Tincture to strengthen the Gums and prevent the Scurvy
Take an ounce of Peruvian Bark grossly powdered, infuse it a fortnight or longer in half a pint of Brandy. Gargle the mouth every night or morning, with a tea spoonful of this Tincture diluted with an equal quantity of Rose-water.
46. Manner of preparing the Roots for cleaning the Teeth, according to Mr. Baumè
The roots that are used to clean the teeth are formed at both ends like little brushes; and in all probability were substituted in the room of Tooth-brushes, on account of their being softer to the gums and more convenient. They are used in the following manner; one of the ends is moistened with a little water, dipped into the Tooth-Powder, and then rubbed against the teeth till they look white. Fibrous and woody Roots are best formed into little brushes, and on this account deserve a preference to others. The Roots are deprived of their juicy parts by boiling them several times in a large quantity of fresh Water. When Lucern Roots are used, those of two years growth are chosen, about the thickness of one's little finger; such as are thicker, unsound or worm-eaten, being rejected. They are cut into pieces about six inches long, and, as we have just observed, are boiled in water till all the juicy parts are extracted. Being then taken out, they are left to drain; after which each end of the roots is slit with a penknife into the form of a little brush, and they are slowly dried to prevent their splitting. In the same manner are prepared Liquorice Roots. Marsh-mallow Roots are prepared in an easier way; but, on account of the mucilage they contain, they become very brittle when dry. Such as are large and very even are made choice of, and rasped with a knife to remove the outer bark. They are dyed red by infusing them in the same dye as is used to colour spunges. When the Roots have remained twenty-four hours in the dye, they are taken out, slowly dried, and varnished with two or three coats of a strong Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth, each being suffered to dry before another is laid on. The whole is afterwards repeatedly anointed with Friars Balsam, in order to form a varnish less susceptible of moisture.
Lucern and Liquorice Roots are dyed and varnished in the same manner: those of Marsh-mallows, from the loss of their Mucilage, considerably diminish in thickness during the time they stand in infusion.
47. Manner of preparing Sponges for the Teeth
For this purpose very thin sponges are made choice of, which are to be washed in several waters; squeezing them with the hands, to loosen and force away the little shells that adhere to their internal surface. Being afterwards dried, they are neatly cut into the shape of balls about the size of small eggs; and when they have undergone this preparation, they are dyed in the following manner.
Take Brazil Wood rasped, four ounces; Cochineal bruised, three drachms; Roch Alum, half an ounce; Water, four pints: put them into a proper vessel, and boil till one half of the Liquor is consumed. Then strain the decoction through a piece of linen, and pour it hot upon the sponges, which are to be left in infusion twelve hours; at the expiration of which time, they are to be repeatedly washed in fresh water, as long as any colour proceeds from them. Being dried, they are afterwards dipped in Spirit of Wine, aromatized with Essential Oil of Cinnamon, Cloves, Lavender, &c. The sponges are then fit for use, and when dried by squeezing, are kept in a wide-mouthed glass-bottle well corked.
48. Rules for the Preservation of the Teeth and Gums
The teeth are bones thinly covered with a fine enamel, which is more or less strong in different persons. When this enamel is wasted, either by a scorbutic humour or any external cause, the tooth cannot long remain sound, and must therefore be cleaned, but with great caution. For this purpose the best instrument is a small piece of wood, like a butcher's skewer, rendered soft at the end. It is generally to be used alone; only once in a fortnight dip it into a few grains of gunpowder, which has previously been bruised. This will remove every spot and blemish, and give your Teeth an inconceivable whiteness. It is almost needless to say, that the mouth must be well washed after this operation; for besides the necessity of so doing, the salt-petre, &c. used in the composition of Gunpowder, would, if it remained, prove injurious to the gums, &c. but has not, nor can have, any bad effect in so short a time.
It is necessary to observe, that very near the gums of people whose teeth are otherwise good, there is apt to grow a crust, both within and without, which, if neglected, separates the gums from the fangs of the teeth; and the latter being by this means left bare, are frequently destroyed. This crust must therefore be carefully scraped off.
49. For stopping the Decay of Teeth
Take of Bole Armenian the quantity of a large nutmeg, a like quantity of Roch Alum, two penny-worth of Cochineal bruised, and a small handful of the Chips of Lignum Vitæ; simmer them with four ounces