Page 527 - My FlipBook

523

SECTION III.

ASTRINGENTS.

When speaking of diseases of the gums, in almost every
case, in their curative treatment, we mentioned the utility of
astringents in hardening them and promoting their healthy ac-
tion, and inducing dieir union to the teeth when they have been
divided or operated on after removing the tartar. We no-
ticed that unless the tartar was completely removed, little
permanent good could be expected from the use of astrin-
gents. In applying them to the teeth and gums, they are apt
to blacken the former ; consequently they should be washed
clean with soft water after using the astringent. Astringents
are used in the form of lotions, powders &c, and the class
of them is very numerous. If properly used, they harden
the gums, and cure a spongy, ulcerated state of them. They
are used to cure scurvy of the gums, in cancrum oris ; to arrest
hemorrhage after dental operations and extraction of the
teeth, and after excision of tumours from the gums. They
are used to relieve tooth-ache, and to reduce the sensibility of
exposed nerves of teeth we wish to plug. The number of
astringent substances are very great. Those generally used
are the gallae, (nut-gall,) of which the fresh Alleppo is the best,
the oak bark, myrtle bark, the red peruvian bark, gum kino,
the sulphates of copper, of alumine, (alum,) the mineral acids,
and the acetic acid, &c. &c.
When judiciously used, they arc exceedingly useful : pro-
mote a healthy state of the gums, and are almost indispensa-
ble in treating diseases of the soft parts about the month.
They exert no pernicious influence upon the teeth, and are
very useful in removing an irritable state of them.