Tooth Powder

[Lone Guard]

I'm looking for a period recipe for Tooth Powder.

http://www.si.edu/archives/documents/smithsontoothpowder.htm

I found this link, but I am not sure what some of the ingredients are.

I don't want to buy tooth powder, I'd rather try to make my own.

I found another recipe that called for 3 parts baking soda, and 1 part salt (salt being the abrasive). I know an early form of baking soda has been around since Colonial America, but I can't find evidence of it being used to clean teeth at the time, only for baking purposes. I speculate that it was used for teeth hygience, but I'd like some evidence.

Thanks,

[Virginia Mescher]

Re: Tooth Powder

I'm looking for a period recipe for Tooth Powder.

http://www.si.edu/archives/documents/smithsontoothpowder.htm

I found this link, but I am not sure what some of the ingredients are.

I don't want to buy tooth powder, I'd rather try to make my own.

I found another recipe that called for 3 parts baking soda, and 1 part salt (salt being the abrasive). I know an early form of baking soda has been around since Colonial America, but I can't find evidence of it being used to clean teeth at the time, only for baking purposes. I speculate that it was used for teeth hygience, but I'd like some evidence.

Thanks,

My husband used tooth powder I had made from a period recipe and the dentist told him not to use it again because of the abrasives used in the powder. It's probably better to stick with the salt and baking soda flavored with peppermint or lemon. The only safe tooth cleaner I've seen in period books is mashed strawberries.

There are some recipes my book _ Powdered, Painted and Perfumed_ and the following ingredients were included in dental care recipes: powdered charcoal, powdered chalk, oil of cloves, burned toast, starch, powdered orris root, quinine, cassia bark, myrrh, powdered cuttlefish, lemon oil, neroli oil, honey, rose pink, vanilla, marble dust, sugar, saffron, ambrigris, musk, pumice stone, rose oil, and strawberries. Mouthwashes included soap, water, alcohol, honey, oil of rose, oil of wintergreen, carbonate of potassa, and cologne.

Below are several tooth powder recipes. Due to the ingredients, either being difficult to find, harmful to the tooth surface or even dangerous to use, I would not recommend making your own tooth powder, using a period recipe.
From _Godey's_ Oct. 1858
"Quinine Tooth Powder.— Precipitated chalk, one pound; starch powder, half pound; orris powder, half pound sulphate of quinine, one drachm. After sifting, it is ready for use.

Prepared Charcoal.— Fresh made charcoal in fine powder, seven pounds; prepared chalk, one pound; orris root, one pound; catechu, half pound; cassia bark, half pound; myrrh, quarter pound. Sift.

Peruvian Bark Powder.— Peruvian bark in powder, half pound; bole Armeniac, one pound; orris powder, one pound; cassia bark, half pound; powdered myrrh, half pound; precipitated chalk, half pound; otto of cloves, quarter ounce.

Homoeopathic Chalk.— Precipitated chalk, one pound; powdered orris, one ounce; powdered starch, one ounce.

Cuttle-Fish Powder.— Powdered cuttle-fish, half pound; precipitated chalk, one pound; powdered orris, half pound, otto of lemons, one ounce; otto of neroli, half drachm."

From _Godey's_ Aug. 1859
"Vegetable Tooth-powder.— Prepared chalk, 4 ounces; powdered rhatany, 4 drachms; powdered bark, 4 drachms; powdered cuttle-fish, 1 ounce; mix well together, and keep in a wide-mouthed bottle.

The following is an excellent tooth-powder for whitening and preserving the teeth:— Prepared charcoal, 1 ounce; powdered myrrh, 2 dr'ms; camphorated chalk, 6 dr'ms; mix well together."

[flattop32355]

Re: Tooth Powder

I'm a dentist in real life. Here's my advice:

Toothpaste/toothpowder is merely an adjunct to the scrubbing action of the brush itself; it adds flavoring (minty-fresh aftertaste) and some abrasiveness and detergent action to the mechanical action of the brush. It's the brushing itself that does the vast majority of the work.

For events, I've ditched the powder and just use the brush. The loss of "cleaning power" is minimal, and it's one less thing to carry/worry about.

There is no charge for this sage advice, but if I ever run short of percussion caps at an event, you folks need to "lend" me some....

[Lone Guard]

Re: Tooth Powder

I'm a dentist in real life. Here's my advice:

Toothpaste/toothpowder is merely an adjunct to the scrubbing action of the brush itself; it adds flavoring (minty-fresh aftertaste) and some abrasiveness and detergent action to the mechanical action of the brush. It's the brushing itself that does the vast majority of the work.

For events, I've ditched the powder and just use the brush. The loss of "cleaning power" is minimal, and it's one less thing to carry/worry about.

There is no charge for this sage advice, but if I ever run short of percussion caps at an event, you folks need to "lend" me some....

Mr. Biederman,

Perhaps you are right, in my searching into the subject, I came across what you said, that the powder/paste is more for freshening breath or whitening teeth than actual cleaning. Thank you. And to you Mrs. Mescher.

[flattop32355]

Re: Tooth Powder

Mr. Biederman,
Perhaps you are right, in my searching into the subject, I came across what you said, that the powder/paste is more for freshening breath or whitening teeth than actual cleaning. Thank you. And to you Mrs. Mescher.

Mr. Biederman was my Father; I'm Bernie, Doc, or "Hey, you!"

And you're welcome. ;)

[Hank Trent]

Re: Tooth Powder

Mr. Biederman was my Father; I'm Bernie, Doc, or "Hey, you!"

I always wonder when people say that... Since their father transitioned from a "first-name" kid to a "Mr." adult as he matured, why don't they? I mean that in a sincere questioning tone, not a snide one. Either first name or Mr. works fine for me; I hardly notice the difference, and certainly don't care enough to correct someone.

But to the topic...

What Bernie said is what I do also, and it's also what was recommended by some people in the period. Powders weren't necessarily meant to be used every day, though of course many people did. I've seen warnings about tooth powder being too abrasive, which I can't find right now, but here are a couple about other dangers:

The December 2, 1864 Scientific American quoted Godey's: "Avoid too frequent use of tooth powder, and be very cautious what kind you buy, as many are prepared with destructive acids. Those who brush their teeth carefully and thoroughly with tepid water and a soft brush (cold water should never be used, for it chills and injures the nerves) have no occasion to use powder."

The Ladies' Medical Guide by S. Pancoast, 1865, gives somewhat contradictory advice: "Tooth powder should be used once a day... The utmost care must be observed in selecting a proper tooth-powder. Some of those that are highly recommended contain certain acids, which will injure the teeth if not utterly destroy them..."

However, the author goes on to recommend water and castille soap for daily use, and a typical chalk and orris root tooth powder only twice a week.

He also mentions what we'd call flossing: "the interstices between them should be manipulated by using a linen or silk thread, so as to prevent particles of food from accumulating about them"

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[Lone Guard]

Re: Tooth Powder

I always wonder when people say that... Since their father transitioned from a "first-name" kid to a "Mr." adult as he matured, why don't they? I mean that in a sincere questioning tone, not a snide one. Either first name or Mr. works fine for me; I hardly notice the difference, and certainly don't care enough to correct someone.

But to the topic...

What Bernie said is what I do also, and it's also what was recommended by some people in the period. Powders weren't necessarily meant to be used every day, though of course many people did. I've seen warnings about tooth powder being too abrasive, which I can't find right now, but here are a couple about other dangers:

The December 2, 1864 Scientific American quoted Godey's: "Avoid too frequent use of tooth powder, and be very cautious what kind you buy, as many are prepared with destructive acids. Those who brush their teeth carefully and thoroughly with tepid water and a soft brush (cold water should never be used, for it chills and injures the nerves) have no occasion to use powder."

The Ladies' Medical Guide by S. Pancoast, 1865, gives somewhat contradictory advice: "Tooth powder should be used once a day... The utmost care must be observed in selecting a proper tooth-powder. Some of those that are highly recommended contain certain acids, which will injure the teeth if not utterly destroy them..."

However, the author goes on to recommend water and castille soap for daily use, and a typical chalk and orris root tooth powder only twice a week.

He also mentions what we'd call flossing: "the interstices between them should be manipulated by using a linen or silk thread, so as to prevent particles of food from accumulating about them"

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

Thank you! That's enough for me to put this search to an end. I'll just use some warm water and a brush for event hygiene. I'll see if I can snag a loose thread off a pard's shirt as well. ;)

[PvtSchultz]

Re: Tooth Powder

For what it's worth, my grandmother used to use a mixture of Baking Soda and Salt as a young girl growing up in Nova Scotia, Canada during the early part of the 20th century. Yes, you may argue she grew up later than the period we are discussing but where she lived they were about 50-60 years behind the times when compared to the U.S.

[Forquer]

Re: Tooth Powder

There is no charge for this sage advice, but if I ever run short of percussion caps at an event, you folks need to "lend" me some....

Bernie -

Looks like 8 years of higher education finally paid off! Bully for you! :nerd:

[cprljohnivey]

Re: Tooth Powder

"I always wonder when people say that... Since their father transitioned from a "first-name" kid to a "Mr." adult as he matured, why don't they? I mean that in a sincere questioning tone, not a snide one. Either first name or Mr. works fine for me; I hardly notice the difference, and certainly don't care enough to correct someone"

Hank: I would chalk that up to how our society is moving more and more casual every day. Look around you at church… I am sure you will see more people dressing casual these days than wearing suits.

Great info about the tooth powder and great advise too. Thanks for sharing.

[Michael McComas]

Re: Tooth Powder

Hank,

My kid's teachers are "Miss Kim" and "Miss Leslie", which to me is like wearing a suit and forgetting to put on your socks. It's the new "business casual" form of good manners. I make my kids refer to adults as "sir" and "ma'am", and use last names.

And back on topic, be sure you dry your toothbrush before putting it back in your pack or haversack, or it will grow mold.

Cheers,

Michael