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The Teeth: Armenian

DENTIFRICES This is a general term including all tooth powders, pastes, and washes for the teeth. The principal ingredients of these preparations are various substances in powdered form that are capable of exerting a gentle friction on the teeth and also have antacid, absorbent, or other useful properties, as chalk, Armenian bole, cuttlefish bone, charcoal, orris root, and Peruvian bark. To these may be added mild alkalies, and other substances having cleansing properties, as borax, bicarbonate of soda, and castile soap; astringent substances as alum and tannic acid; and agreeable vehicles as powdered sugar, rock candy, honey, sirup, and sugar of milk. Any of these mixtures may be perfumed with a few drops of any of the essential oils or essences, or colored by the addition of finely pulverized red coral, rose pink, cochineal, dragon's blood, or red sanders for red; ocher for yellow; indigo for blue or violet. Vari- THE TEETH ous other substances having specific properties too numerous to mention may be added.

Prepared Chalk is the most universally popular ingredient in tooth powders, as it is cheap, safe, and effective, and tends to neutralize any acids that may be present in the mouth.

Bole is an earthy substance similar to clay, which is found in veins and fissures of basalt and other rocks in various parts of the world. It has a greasy feeling when rubbed between the fingers, and is slightly sticky on the tongue. There are several kinds of bole found in different localities, of which the Armenian bole has a red tint and is used in tooth powders to impart that color and also because of its absorbent and astringent properties.

Magnesia.