DIY Clove Oil for Toothache
No matter how perfect and healthy your teeth are, you will still likely experience toothache at some point. Toothache has different causes; some are mild, while others may require treatment.
One of the go-to home remedies for mild tooth pain is an OTC eugenol oil, popularly known as oil of cloves. Clove oil is a natural anesthetic that numbs the pain and reduces the swelling of the gums when applied topically.
Causes of Toothache
Toothache, no matter how mild, can be very disorienting. It usually gets in your way of work and may affect your diet. The pain is sometimes continuous and may cause headaches too.
Dental cavities, abscesses, cracked teeth, and gum infections are common causes of tooth pain. The radiating pain may also be due to a sinus infection or teeth grinding.
Home remedies and painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can alleviate most tooth pains. However, if the pain is severe or accompanied by fever and chills, it is a dental emergency that needs to be checked by the dentist immediately.
Depending on the underlying issue, the dentist may recommend extraction or prescribe an antibiotic for infection.
Clove Oil for Managing Tooth Pain
Clove oil is extracted from cloves (Syzygium aromaticum), an aromatic spice for flavoring foods and teas.
Eugenol, a chemical compound, can be found in other spices like cinnamon but it is most abundant in clove oil. It is responsible for the aroma and powerful therapeutic properties of cloves.
Clove oil has been used since the 16th century for treating dental caries. It became widely used in dentistry in 1858 for pain relief and as a topical analgesic for various pains.
Eugenol is a volatile compound and is considered the most effective herbal relief for pain because of these medicinal properties:
Analgesic
Clove oil extract possesses excellent analgesic or painkilling properties. A study using acetic acid tests and thermal methods proved the antinociceptive activity of eugenol. It works by numbing the pain receptors to remove the sensation and ease toothache and body pains.
Clove is one of the herbal topical anesthetics being studied and explored as a potential local anesthesia for dental procedures.
Anti-Inflammatory
The eugenol in cloves can control inflammation and reduce its accompanying pain. It may help relieve toothache and lessen its swelling and discomfort. Clove oil is also effective in reducing the inflammation after a dental procedure.
Imagine this: a small toothache, barely noticeable, but under the surface, inflammation is quietly letting bacteria travel through your body. It can lead to heart issues, infections, even strokes if left unchecked. Taking care of inflammation isn’t just about easing pain—it’s about protecting your overall health.
What you eat plays a huge role in how your body handles inflammation. An anti-inflammatory diet doesn’t just soothe your gums or ease a toothache—it supports your entire system.
Foods like leafy greens, berries, and turmeric help your body fight swelling, heal faster, and even protect against chronic diseases like arthritis and heart problems. It’s like giving your body the tools it needs to stay balanced and healthy, from your mouth to the rest of you.
In fact, here’s the anti-inflammatory diet I followed, and my doctor even mentioned he noticed improvements during my last checkup.
I felt less sluggish, my gums weren’t as sensitive, and even my skin looked better. It’s incredible how small changes—like adding more greens and cutting back on processed foods—can make such a big difference in how your whole body feels and heals.
Wound Healing
Clove promotes faster wound healing with its flavonoids and alkaloid compounds. A non-human clinical test showed accelerated healing in the clove oil test group compared to betadine. It may be used to speed up the healing of wounds or gums after incision or extraction.
Antimicrobial
Clove oil may inhibit the growth of bacteria causing tooth pain, bad breath and other oral health issues. It is effective against staph bacteria that most antibiotics cannot kill. Clove essential oil also displays excellent antifungal properties for treating oral thrush.
Clove’s antimicrobial properties are most effective at inhibiting the growth of microorganisms that cause dental caries. In a 2016 study on the efficacy of plant products against dental caries, clove oil exhibited the most significant result compared to other herbs.
Antiseptic
Antibiotics kill organisms from the inside while antiseptic performs the same effect on the surface. Clove is excellent in inhibiting pathogens both ways. It can be used as an antiseptic to effectively diminish bacterial growth from the surface of a living organism.
Gargling with diluted clove essential oil flushes away germs and microbes that can worsen toothache, reducing the possibility of infection.
Most lab-made mouthwashes promise fresh breath and a clean mouth, but they often come loaded with harsh chemicals like chlorhexidine and alcohol.
While they might kill bacteria, they can also disrupt your mouth’s natural microbiome, drying it out and even increasing the risk of tooth decay over time.
Some studies have even linked the frequent use of chemical mouthwashes to elevated blood pressure and other health concerns.
That’s where a natural alternative like Usnea lichen comes in. Known as “nature’s mouthwash,” Usnea is packed with antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiseptic properties that target harmful bacteria without harming your body’s natural defenses.
It doesn’t just freshen your breath—it helps protect your gums, teeth, and overall oral health in the most natural way possible. However, if you don’t have the time, the tools, or the place where you can source your Usnea lichen from, I’ll leave a link for you here to my supplier that provides 100% organic and natural herbal remedies.
I’ve been using her Usnea Tincture Spray for ages, and honestly, the difference is incredible. My mouth feels fresher, my gums are healthier, and I don’t miss the chemical burn from those store-bought mouthwashes one bit. It’s like giving your mouth the care it deserves, straight from nature.
How to Use Clove for Toothache
You can use cloves for your tooth pain, depending on whichever form is available to you.
You may use fresh or dried cloves, clove essential oil, mouthwash, or spray.
Some people apply clove oil directly into the affected area. However, it may risk causing a burning sensation. The best way is to dilute it with essential oil first to make it more manageable and suitable for the application.
Whole Clove
Place a crushed clove over the affected area until the pain subsides.
Direct Application
Soak a cotton or cotton ball in a few drops of clove oil. Wipe the cotton over the tooth or gum and leave for at least 5 minutes before rinsing.
Diluted Application
Take a teaspoon of carrier oil (coconut, olive, avocado, or other carrier oil of choice) and mix a few drops of clove oil into it. Swish the mixture in your mouth for a few minutes and rinse it off.
Clove Oil Paste
Crush a few whole cloves and mix them with oil. Apply the paste to the aching tooth and leave for about 5 minutes.
Clove Oil Pulling
Mix a few drops of clove oil in coconut water. Swish it on your mouth, focusing on the affected area and rinse it off.
Clove Oil Mouthwash
Add a few drops of clove oil in a glass of water and swish it around the mouth for about a minute. Brush and rinse.
I used to think store-bought oral care products were the only way to keep my teeth and gums healthy—until I learned what’s really inside them.
The chemicals in those mouthwashes and toothpastes not only disrupt the balance of good bacteria in your mouth but can also weaken your gums over time. That’s when I decided to take control and started making my own herbal remedies.
With step-by-step instructions from Forgotten Home Apothecary book, I learned how to craft a gum-strengthening herbal mouthwash and a natural toothpaste. It’s amazing knowing exactly what goes into these recipes and seeing the difference in my oral health—no harsh chemicals, just nature working its magic.
Clove Tea
Brewing a teaspoon of whole clove in 2 cups of water and taking it as a tea may also work against toothache. However, it is not recommended to be taken in large amounts or before a scheduled tooth extraction. Clove tea has an anticoagulant effect that may increase bleeding and it stays in the system for about 24 hours.
DIY Clove Oil
Eugenol is available as an OTC pain medication in many drug stores. You can also prepare homemade clove oil for a handy remedy.
Ingredients
Ingredients- ½ tsp cloves
- ½ cup olive oil
Steps
- Crush the cloves with a small amount of olive oil using a mortar and pestle.
- Place it in a small jar and add the rest of the olive oil.
- Leave the infusion for 4-6 weeks for maximum effectiveness.
- Strain out the solids.
- Transfer the clove oil to a small amber bottle.
To use: Dip a Q tip or cotton buds into the clove oil and press it on the aching tooth or sore gums for a few minutes before rinsing with water. Do not use this oil on teething babies and dilute it in olive oil if using it on children to weaken its spiciness.
Discontinue using if irritation and extreme burning sensation occur. Sometimes clove (especially the essential oil) can thin the blood, so avoid this if you are taking blood-thinning medications or have a bleeding disorder
This homemade clove oil may last about four months when stored in a cool and dry place. Adding a few drops of Vitamin E oil may extend its shelf life from six months to a year.
I’ve learned how to help myself and my family get back to health naturally, using remedies that feel like they’re straight out of a storybook. And the best part? These aren’t random guesses or old wives’ tales. They’re the same remedies taught by one of the most respected herbalists in America. And now, I get to share them with you!
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- The Most Powerful Painkiller that We Lost to History – Similar to Morphine
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- The Fever Sponge
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- Herbal Migraine Killer
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In the 1960’s I leaned about clove. I worked for a dentist and they used a clove salve to rub on the gums. Years later I had a tooth ache so I just went into my spices, pulled out a clove and bit on it where my tooth ache was, it numbed it very well, until I could get to the dentist, so you don’t have to go through all the trouble of making anything.