Читать книгу The Toilet of Flora - Buc'hoz Pierre-Joseph - Страница 49

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.