Chap. 2. Of the blackness and rottenness of the Teeth.
MAny times the Teeth do contract a black, livid, or yellow color, from the evil Humors, clea∣ving unto them, which by long continuance do also corrode them, and make them rotten: and these Diseases come from filthy vapors that fly upwards, and are engendered of evil nourishment, or from the distemper of the stomach, which corrupteth good nourishment.
Quick-silver doth black the Teeth, whether it be used to the whol Body, as in the Pox, or only to the Face. Hence it is that women which use Mercury to make them fair, have black and ill color'd Teeth.
For the Cure you must first remove the antecedent Cause, and if it comes from evil humors in the stomach, they must be discharged, and the distemper of the parts which produce them must be cor∣rected, and a good diet prescribed, and those things forbidden which do corrupt the teeth, especially sweet things.
Infinite Medicines are prescribed by Authors for making teeth white, which may be experienced. We are contented with one, which presently makes them white, clenseth them, and keeps them from rotting, namely, the spirit of Sulphur, or Vitriol, in which you must dip a little stick, and rub the teeth with the end thereof, and then wipe them with a clout. In a great foulness you may use the Oyls by themselves, otherwise you must mix them with Honey of Roses, or fair Water, lest by the often use of them the Gums should be corroded. Montanus, consil. 113. reports that he learned that at Rome, of a Woman called Greek Mary: to whom when he came when he was yong, and she twen∣ty yeers old, and after when she was fifty, he found her almost in the same condition, and she con∣fessed that her Beauty and strength was preserved by the Spirit of Vitriol, and that her Teeth which were very bad in her youth, were by that, made very fair and firm, and also her Gums; and also that she perceived her self by the use thereof to seem more youthful, and she used every day one drop or two to rub gently her Teeth and Gums.
The Ashes of Tobacco is very good also to clense and make white the Teeth.
For prevention, and to preserve the Teeth, first clense them with a Tooth-picker made of Ma∣stich Wood, or the like; then wash the mouth with Wine, and rub the Teeth with this Pouder:
Take of the Roots of Snakeweed, Allum, and white Coral, of each one ounce: Make a Pouder to rub the Teeth.
Or wash them with this Water.
Take of the fine Pouder of burnt Allum two drams: whol Cinnamon half a dram: Spring and Rose Water, of each four ounces: boyl them in a Glass upon hot Embers to the consuming of the third part. Wash the Teeth therewith every morning with a cloth dipped therein.