This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this text, in whole or in part. Please contact project staff at eebotcp-info@umich.edu for further information or permissions.
I. IT is called in Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. in Latin, Mobilitas, vel vacillatio Dentium; and in English, Loose∣ness of the Teeth.
II. The Causes. The external Cause is either blows or falls, biting hard things, pulling with the Teeth beyond their strength; the internal is, the want of nourishment, (as in old people) whence comes the wearing away of the Gums, (which causes looseness) or the afflux
of evil Humors to them; which by an eroding quality consume the Gums, or the roots of the Teeth: also from the Scurvy, and Mercurial Unctions in the Venereal Disease.
III. The Prognosticks. If they are very loose, and have been long so, they will scarcely ever be made fast again.
IV. The Cure. If they are loosened by any external violence, their fastning is endeavoured by Astringents: as, ℞ Roots of Cinkfoil, Bistort, A. ℥ j. Cype∣rus ℥ ss. Sumach ʒ iij. boil in Smiths-forge-water, filter, and add Aluin ʒij. with which often wash the Mouth: and it may be so much the better, if a little red Wine be added to it.
V. If it is from a defect of nourishment, there is scarcely any Remedy to be applied; the greatest help that can be, is to apply astringent and strength∣ning things to the Gums.
VI. If it is from too great humidity, use things drying, and something astringing: but you ought to beware of such Astrin∣gents as may make the Teeth black, as Pomgranate-peels, Ba∣laustians, Galls, Vitriol, Chal∣citis, &c.
VII. These things are profitable; as roots of Male-fern, of Cink∣foil, of Bistort, of Dock, of Tormentil, of Capers; leaves of Myrtles, Lentisk, unripe Med∣lars; flowers of red Roses, cups of Acorns, Hazle-nuts: a Decoction of all or any of which may be made in red, or sharp, or sowr Wine, with which the Teeth and Gums may be often washed.
VIII. And to draw forth the Humidities, the roots of Pyre∣thrum, and Sage-leaves may be added.
IX. The Teeth also may be often rubbed with this styptick Pouder: ℞ Roch-alum, Mastich, Sanguis Draconis, Terra Sigil∣lata, fine Bole, A. ʒ ij. roots of Orrice and Bistort, Harts-horn burnt white, red Coral levigated, Ivory burnt white, A. ʒ j. Pipe∣ris, Pyrethri, A. ℈ ij. Mastich, Olibanum, A. ʒ ss. mix, and make a Pouder.
X. Often wash the Teeth and Gums with Tincture of Myrrh, made with common Brandy: or, for want of it, with good red Port-wine: this wonderfully strengthens them, and destroys Putrifaction.
XI. Or they may be washed with a Decoction, of Moufear, roots of Bistort and Tormentil, in Smiths-forge-water, boiled to a consumption of a third part, and then filtred.
XII. Or, ℞ Leaves of Myr∣tles, Berries of Services, A. ℥ iij. unripe Medlars ℥ ij. unripe wild Pears ℥ j. Sarcocol ℥ ss. Roch∣alum ʒiij. Vinegar of Squills ℥iij. red Wine a quart; mix, boil to the consumption of a third part, and then strain and filter; and add thereto Syrup of Myrtles, or Syrup of Limons.
XIII. This is much com∣mended: ℞ Acorns ℥ j. burnt Alum ʒj. Acacia ʒ ss. red Roses dried M ss. red Port-wine a quart: boil to the consumption of a third part, strain, and wash often therewith.
XIV. ℞ Pouder of Juniper∣gum
ʒss. Myrrh, crude Alum, A.ʒj. Oxymel Scilliticum, q.s. mix, and make a stiff Electuary; to be laid all night upon the Teeth and Gums.
XV. Sennertus commends this: ℞ Roots of Tormentil and Bistort, Lignum Guajacum rasped, A.℥jij. roots of Plantan ℥j. of Self-heal, green bark of Walnuts, Coriander∣seed, yellow Sanders, Cassia li∣gnea, Citron-peels, A. ℥ ss. seeds of Purslane ʒ vj. Cypress-nuts, Nutmegs, Myrtle-berries, A. ʒ iij. Pine-nuts No iv. leaves of Plan∣tane, Horehound, Nettles, Self∣heal, red Roses, A. M. j ss. Rosemary, red Sage, A. M. ij. Frankincense, Mastich, A. ʒ ij. Cinamon, Myrrh, A. ʒ j ss. rasp∣ings of Harts-horn ℥ j ss. let all be prepared according to Art, and mixed with six quarts of old red Wine: digest a week, and distil all in a Glass Cucurbit to driness: in the Liquor you may dissolve Roch-alum ℥ ij. and therewith the Teeth and Gums may be washed six, eight, or ten times a day.
XVI. If it is from a wasting or erosion of the Gums, you may use this: ℞ Alum scissile burnt, red Roses, Sumach, A. ʒ j ss. Lignum Aloes, Cyperus roots, A. ʒ j. mix, and make a pou∣der, which lay all night upon the Gums.
XVII. Or, Take Red Coral prepared, Myrrh, A. ʒ j ss. Mastich, Frankincense, Cyperus∣roots, A. ʒ ss. round Birth∣wort, Cassia lignea, Virginean Snake-root, A. ℈ j. mix, and make a Pouder, to be used as the former.
XVIII. If the looseness proceeds from the Scurvy, you must first cure that Disease, be∣fore this Symptom can be re∣medied.
XIX. If it is from Ʋnctions, or Salivation in the French Pox; you must, after the Sali∣avtion is over, first cleanse them very well with Oxymel Scilli∣ticum; then wash them with the following Mouth-water: Take White-wine, Brandy, A. lbj. raspings of Guajacum ℥ j. Cortex ejusdem ℥ ss. both ground to a pouder in a hot Mor∣tar with Salt of Tartar ℥ j ss. mix, and extract a Tincture; with which often wash the Teeth.
XX. Or you may use this: Take rectified Spirit of Wine lbj ss. Oil of Sulphur ʒ iij. li∣gnum Guajacum, & cortex, A. ʒ vi. mix, and extract a Tin∣cture; and to the clear Tincture add Damask-rose-water lbij. Honey of Roses q.s. mix them, and keep it for use.