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 pernicious 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
Dentifice purpose of cleaning the teeth, and preserving them afterwards from corruption. DEPHLEG-
MATION. DENTISCALPRA, in Surgery, an instrument for
scouring yellow, livid, or black teeth; to which being
applied near the gums, it scrapes off the foul morbid
crust.