Clove Oil for Toothache and Dental Care in Ancient & Modern Times
In a hurry? Click here to read the Article Summary...
If you’ve ever experienced clove essential oil, you probably remember it. The smell of clove is unique, pungent, and spicy. Basically, when it comes to aromas, you either love clove or can’t stand it. Either way, you can’t deny the vast healing power of this most pungent spice that has been used within Chinese medicine and in other parts of the world for over 2,000 years − particularly when it comes to tooth pain and mouth health.
Historical Use of Clove Oil for Toothache and Gum Pain
According to The History of Dentistry by Walter Hoffmann-Axthelm, the Emperor of China was said to have used clove as a “mouth perfume” as far back as 200 AD, and the first medicinal reference to cloves was by 10th century Arabian dentist al-Gazzar, when cloves were used to control mouth odors and pain.
Even today the most common association people make with clove essential oil is to oral health and to relieve painful tooth and mouth issues.
Isn’t it incredible that despite all our medical and dental advances that centuries later clove is still a natural remedy to relieve painful toothaches and achy gums!
It’s also been a long-standing favorite of parents with teething babies. With this method a tiny amount of clove oil, heavily diluted with a light carrier oil to avoid irritation (i.e. coconut or olive oil), is applied to the affected area to soothe the pain.
What makes clove so effective at providing temporary relief from tooth and gum pain (e.g., dry socket)? Studies have confirmed that one of the active ingredients in clove is benzocaine, the same basic stuff doctors and dentists usually use to numb a local area before inserting a needle. If you’ve ever gotten clove oil on your tongue you’ll recognize that numbing (“my tongue is frozen”) effect!
A study published in the Journal of Dentistry in 2006 looked at whether clove gel was as effective as benzocaine for numbing purposes. The conclusion? That both clove and benzocaine lowered pain more than placebo and that “Clove gel might posses a potential to replace benzocaine as a topical agent before needle insertion.”
Can Clove Oil Help Protect Tooth Enamel?
Another interesting advantage of using clove for your gums and tooth health is that it may also help with tooth “decalcification” or tooth “erosion.” If you’re heeding the advice of health experts that say to drink a glass of water with lemon juice every morning, then this is especially applicable to you…
Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning is a GREAT thing to do for your overall health, but it might not be the best thing for your teeth. (As a side note, a drop of lemon essential oil in your water is a good alternative to lemon juice in water. Drinking lemon water with a straw can also help to protect your teeth). All that acidic liquid from fresh lemon juice can do a number on your tooth enamel over time – especially if you brush too soon after consuming. (Tip: wait at least 30 minutes before brushing).
Clove oil, however, has been found to support tooth health by helping to slow dental erosion caused by acidic foods and drink. In fact, in some studies, such as a 2012 investigation conducted by the Indian government, clove oil was found to actually help with teeth re-mineralization.
Knowing what clove oil can do for your teeth, gums, and tooth enamel, why would you want to use fluoride for so-called tooth health? After all, why risk all the nasty, proven side effects – including sterility and lower cognitive ability – that potentially comes along with it?
Do yourself a favor and ditch the fluoride toothpaste (and the tap water that may contain fluoride as well) and go for side effect-free clove oil. It’s natural, free of toxins (if from a quality brand), and has been demonstrated effective over thousands of years for your mouth health. You can find a healthy DIY toothpaste recipe here and a mouthwash recipe down below.
Clove for Your Gums & Overall Dental Health
Did you know that inside your mouth there are over 700 different kinds of bacterial species? It’s safe to say that not all of them are the “friendly” kind. And this is precisely where clove’s unique anti-bacterial properties come in handy. Clove can provide a level of protection against bad bacteria which in turn helps to prevent gum disease.
Microorganisms in the mouth that can lead to gum disease and tooth decay are resilient. They have their own “will to survive” that often make them hardy and difficult to control.
Many strains of harmful bacteria that lodge themselves in the mouth – and in the body – develop resistance to traditional avenues of controlling them, such as antibiotics.
According to a report published in the journal Compendium, many bad bacteria can’t develop a tolerance nor resistance to clove oil (thyme oil as well). This fact makes these two essential oils very effective anti-bacterial agents for the mouth and gums.
A side note about clove’s anti-bacterial properties: some experts say that clove oil can even help with Candida overgrowth when taken internally. Be sure to work with a naturopathic health professional to determine how best to proceed if addressing this condition.
Caution When Using: Clove Oil Is Powerful
When it comes to clove oil, more is not necessarily better. Clove essential oil is considered a “hot” oil that can be harsh on the stomach lining if used internally too much.
It can also be irritating to the skin, so always make sure that you use a quality organic carrier oil when you apply it to the skin. This goes for the skin in your mouth (i.e. your gums) as well.
Be especially careful to keep clove oil away from your eyes and other sensitive membranes as it will sting. If you do accidentally apply it in the wrong spot, don’t flush with water which will only spread it around − dilute with a carrier oil.
And of course, make sure that your clove oil has “supplement facts” on the label. Remember that if your essential oil label does not have this wording or information then it should NOT be used orally.
In fact, because the skin is a great absorber (we literally “drink in” all the creams, lotions and oils we slather on it), it is best to always use quality essential oils no matter what the capacity you are using them in. That just makes good, safe sense!
How to Make Your Own Clove Essential Oil Mouthwash
The powerhouse trio of herbs in Magi-Complexx Essential Oil provides the strongest, most synergistic healing effect, helping sufferers of arthritis pain, constant muscle aches and pains, neuropathy, systemic inflammation, slowed wound healing, circulatory challenges, as well as skin irritations like eczema, psoriasis, and acne.
Sources:
Article Summary
The most common association people make with clove essential oil is to oral health.
Studies have confirmed that clove contains benzocaine, the same basic stuff traditional doctors and dentists usually use to numb a local area before inserting a needle.
Clove oil has been found to support tooth health by helping to slow dental erosion caused by acidic foods and drink.
According to a report published in the journal Compendium, many bad bacteria can’t develop a tolerance nor resistance to clove oil.
Some experts say that clove oil can even help with Candida overgrowth when taken internally. Be sure to work with a naturopathic health professional to determine how best to proceed if addressing this condition.
I’m trying to order clove oil and blend of oils to sleep but your website is way too confusing for this old gal!
Hi June, Oh no! I am so sorry for the confusion. It is not you at all. We no longer offer the essential oils. We sometimes have to make hard decisions regarding our products based on the marketplace and other variables. With that in mind, we had to say a sad good-bye to our beloved Essential Oils product line.
While making the decision to remove our Essential Oils inventory was not an easy one, it allows us to have laser focus on our current products and ensure we are doing everything we can to fulfill our mission for your continued good health.
However, we do have a suggestion for you!
We have signed on with an affiliate that can continue to provide similar USDA organic essential oils that you were ordering from Organixx. Please give Rocky Mountain Oils a try by following this link: https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1813834&u=3060444&m=83601&urllink=&afftrack=Organixx_RMOils Enjoy! :)
Came for the clove essential oil mouthwash recipe. Never found it. I did see a link to DIYtoothpaste - and the heading at the end of article says
"How to Make Your Own Clove Essential Oil Mouthwash "
Then an ad, then end of article. where's the link or recipe?
Opah.
Sorry to hear that, Pato. The recipe is still up in the end of the article, before the Article Summary. We suggest you use another device (a laptop or computer preferably) to check. Let us know if you are still having difficulty in doing so, we'd love to send the recipe to your email instead.
I also do not see the mouthwash recipe. Could I possibly be emailed it please? I do not have another device. I do think that the mouthwash recipe should be in whatever format the rest of this article is in so that everyone can see it.
We hear you, Laura! We'll be keeping in touch with you as soon as we can. Thank you for letting us know!
Great arricle- thankfully i stumbled on it- ive got a really bad tooth ache and canr see Debtist till monday! So far its working great..,
Gela, we are happy you found this article helpful. Hope you feel better soon!
THANKYOU, FOR YOUR ADVICE, I GOT SOME CLOVE OIL TODAY AND STARTED USING IT TO RINSE BY MOUTH WITH WATER OUT REGULARLY TO ASSIST IN MY ORAL HEALTH.
THANKYOU HEAPS
My grandmother used Oil of Cloves for many years. I remember this. She was afraid of dentists and self treated her own teeth. She died of stomach cancer.
It is important to see a dentist routinely even though you may self treat with Oil of Cloves. Bacteria find their way into the stomach and intestinal tract and cause inflammation that sometimes lead to ulcers and ultimately cancer.