how to keep your chompers sparkly

of all the varieties of hygiene, dental hygiene is the one that has to do with the teeth the most. but what are we to do during a snowpocalypse when our toothpaste runs out? are we sposed to just sit around and wait for our decaying teeth to drop from our mouths like loose chiclets? i think not! here is a questionable recipe* from 1830 for when you find yourself in this and similar situations:

However nauseous and unpleasant it may be to the palate, I am convinced there is nothing that preserves the teeth so well as tobacco: the reason why you will never see an old or inveterate smoker with bad teeth. On this account I recommend the ashes of tobacco, mixed with a little salt and fine charcoal, as the best preservative for the teeth.

__

from: the whole art of dress! by “a cavalry officer” (1830).

*the fine print: raynor ganan is not your doctor or your dentist (yet) so take this toothpaste recipe with both a literal and figurative grain of salt.