Cheap and Invaluable Dentifrice
Dissolve 2 ounces of borax in three pints of water; before quite cold, add thereto one tea-spoonful of tincture of myrrh, and one tablespoonful of spirits of camphor; bottle the mixture for use. One wine-glass of the solution, added to half a pint of tepid water, is sufficient for each application. This solution, applied daily, preserves and beautifies the teeth, extirpates all tartarous adhesion, produces a pearl-like whiteness, arrests decay, and induces a healthy action in the gums.
Source: The Ladies’ Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness, Florence Hartley
Tooth Powder
Powdered orris-root, 1/2 an ounce; powdered charcoal, 2 ounces, powdered Peruvian bark, 1 ounce; prepared chalk, 1/2 an ounce; oil of bergamot, or lavender, 20 drops. These ingredients must be well worked up in a mortar, until thoroughly incorporated. This celebrated tooth-powder possesses three essential virtues, giving an odorous breath, cleansing and purifying the gums, and preserving the enamel; the last rarely found in popular tooth-powders.
Source: The Ladies’ Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness, Florence Hartley
For the Tooth-ache
Each of the following remedies have been known to alleviate suffering. Turn up a wine-glass, put a little powdered alum on the round part, rub it to a paste with sweet spirits of nitre, and apply it directly to the cavity of the tooth, if there be one, if not, on the gum round it. Repeat this often.
Or: mix 2 drachms of alum, in impalpable powder, and 2 drachms of nitrous spirits of ether.
Or: 2 drachms of alum powdered very fine, with 7 drachms of nitrous spirits of ether.
Or: a drop of ether and of laudanum on cotton: this will also relieve the ear-ache.
Or: 1 oz. tincture of myrrh, 1 oz. tincture of gumlac, 1/2 oz. tincture of bark: mix the two last, shake well, add the myrrh by degrees, and shake well together. 1 table-spoonful to 2 of hot water; wash the mouth frequently, holding it in for some time.
Source: The English Housekeeper, Anne Cobbett
Filed under Remedy | Tags: alum, bark, cavity, cobbett, ear, earache, ethe, gumlac, gums, laudanum, mouth, myrrh, nitre, nitrous spirits of ether, spirits of nitre, teeth, tooth, toothache | Comment (0)Dry Lips
When the lips, gums and tongue are dry in acute diseases, they should be washed several times daily with glycerine, diluted with an equal quantity of water. A little lemon juice or a few drops of rosewater can be added to make it more pleasant to the patient.
Source: Household Gas Cookery Book, Helen Edden
Bleeding of Gums
Rinse mouth with alum water — 1 teaspoon powdered alum in a glass of ice water; or 1 tsp. tincture of myrrh in 1 tbsp. water.
Source: The Mary Frances First Aid Book, Jane Eayre Fryer
“Gum Boils” or “Canker Sores”
So-called “gum boils” or “canker sores” are little ulcer-like sores which at times appear in children’s mouths, caused by disarrangement of the stomach. Local applications, such as borax or powdered alum, shrink the sores and give a little relief; but the child should be given a dose of calcined magnesia at night or citrate of magnesia in the morning. (Never give a small dose of citrate of magnesia; a child of twelve years should take a tumblerful.)
Source: The Mary Frances First Aid Book, Jane Eayre Fryer
Cure for Toothache
To one tea-spoonful of kreosote[sic] put half a tea-spoonful of alcohol. Soak a bit of cotton well with this, and put it into the tooth. No harm will arise from the use of kreosote, if care is taken not to swallow the spittle. This has been tried by the author, and found a permanent cure.
Another: Mix alum and common salt in equal quantities, finely pulverized. Then wet some cotton, large enough to fill the cavity, which cover with salt and alum, and apply it.
Source: Valuable Receipts, J.M. Prescott
Filed under Remedy | Tags: alcohol, alum, common salt, cotton, cotton wool, creosote, gums, kreosote, mouth, prescott, salt, spit, spittle, teeth, tooth, toothache | Comment (0)For the Teeth
A very agreeable dentifrice is made from an ounce of myrrh in fine powder, and a little powdered green sage, mixed with two spoonfuls of honey. The teeth should be washed with it every night and morning. Spite of all that is said against it, charcoal holds the highest place as a tooth-powder. It has the property, too, of opposing putrefaction, and destroying vices of the gums. It is most conveniently used when made into paste with honey.
Source: The Housekeeper’s Friend: A Practical Cookbook
Mouth Wash for Receding Gums
Hydronaphthol 15 grains.
Spirits of Wine 1 ounce.
Water 1 ounce.
Put twenty drops in wineglassful of water, holding in mouth a little at a time for a few moments and spitting out. Do this daily.
Source: Tested Formulas and Useful House and Farm Recipes, T. Kenny
Filed under Remedy | Tags: gums, hydronapthol, kenny, mouth, mouth wash, mouthwash, spirits, spirits of wine, wine | Comment (0)