DENTIFRICE, in medicine, a remedy for the
teeth. There are various kinds; generally made of
earthy substances finely pounded, and mixed with alum,
or some other saline substances; but these are pern-
icious, on account of their wearing away the enamel
of the teeth; but more especially by the septic
quality with which these earthy substances are endowed.
On this account, a portion of Peruvian bark finely
pounded is now commonly added, which answers the
double purpose of cleaning the teeth, and preserving
them afterwards from corruption.