Tooth Pain and Clove Oil – A Tried and Tested Remedy
Clove is a herb and its oils, dried flower buds, leaves and stems are used to make medicine. Clove is used in preparing tooth pastes and mouthwashes.
Packed with nutrients
Cloves are spices which are power packed with the goodness of a plethora of nutrients from manganese, omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamin K, dietary fibers and flavonoids to carbohydrates, sugars and sodium. Along with a wide range of medicinal benefits, the most common and well-known use of clove and clove oil is in tooth aches.
Use of clove in toothache
Clove is used topically for toothaches, to relieve pain during dental procedures and also while tooth extractions. Clove also acts as a counter-irritant for pain and for the inflammation of mouth and throat. It is also applied on dry sockets following tooth extraction. Clove oil or clove is used for providing temporary pain relief.
What makes it work?
The eugenol content present in clove oil is responsible for decreasing pain. The active chemical in clove possesses antioxidant, antiseptic, analgesic and local anesthetic properties. This makes its use in tooth pain valuable.
Is it safe?
Clove has been safely used in food for long, but larger doses used for medicinal purposes may lead to toxicity. It is suggested that children should not take clove in large amounts as it may lead to severe health hazards. Clove oil is safe for topical application on gums, tooth pulp but its overuse or frequent applications may cause damage to the gums, tooth pulp, skin and mucus membranes. Children should not use clove oil for its severely damaging effects in them.
The research on clove
Research has shown that application of clove is efficient in numbing the tissue against the pain and the effect was at par with benzocaine. A clinical trial performed on maxillary canine teeth of volunteers also showed no significant difference between the benzocaine and clove oil and the effect was visible within 5 minutes of application.
How to use clove in home remedies?
Whole clove or clove oil can be used as remedy in alleviating tooth pain and sore gums. Some of the ways in which clove can be employed in alleviating the tooth ache and sore gums are discussed below.
1. Clove oil is applied on a cotton ball and used as a clove compress on the sore tooth or gums.
2. The simplest remedy is to place few whole cloves in your mouth, moisten them with saliva which is then softened. After the clove is softened, it is bruised between non-painful molars to release oil.
3. Clove can be grounded into a powder and used in mouth of the pain is so much that it is difficult to crush them in mouth.
4. Clove can also be combined with a chewing gum which can be kept in the mouth and chewed for a few seconds.
5. Clove oil can also be directly rubbed on the affected area in the tooth and sore gums. Use a diluted form of clove oil for this purpose.
6. Dental compress can also be made by mixing 2 drops of pure clove oil with ¼ teaspoon olive oil and saturating a cotton ball or a gauze pad with this diluted oil and placing it beneath the affected tooth.
7. Whole Cloves can be mixed with cayenne pepper to make an effective toothache remedy. This can be prepared by crushing a few whole cloves and mixing it with equal parts of cayenne pepper powder and then making a thick paste with the help of a few drops of water. This paste can be applied directly to relieve tooth aches.
Category: HEALTH, HERBAL REMEDIES
