Toothache? Clove it!
Cloves — not just good for a Sunday roast
There are few things as painful as a tooth that decides to play up in the middle of the night. Most often than not, that will also be the night that you don’t have any pain medicine lying around the house, the 24-hour pharmacy is too far, your mom lives in another city and tomorrow morning feels like it will never arrive. What do you do?
Remember that roast you made for Sunday lunch the other day? Chances are that you used cloves in the recipe, and you might have some left in the pantry.
What does that have to do with the toothache?
Grinding a clove between your teeth to alleviate the pain, has been a remedy to treat toothache for many years. References to clove oil being used in dentistry go as far back as the early 19th century. Eugenol, the active ingredient in clove oil, is released when the clove is grinded, it numbs the skin around the tooth and provides temporary relief from the toothache. Or so the story goes. Is there any truth in this?
Most toothaches are associated with an inflammatory response, the body’s natural reaction against injury and infection. Eugenol is an effective anti-inflammatory and will aid in the reduction of the swelling and pain associated with the inflammation. The analgesic properties of eugenol will also aid in this process.
Studies have also indicated that it reduces pain with its anesthetic effects, numbing the tissue around the tooth providing temporary relief.
All these effects will in theory aid in the treatment of an untimely tooth ache, but the cause of the tooth ache must be determined as soon as possible to ensure the correct treatment is applied. Your dentist will help with this.
Just a word of caution. Eugenol in high concentrations may be harmful to your liver and should not be used if you suffer from a bleeding disorder. Using clove oil during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding is also not recommended and should first be run past your doctor. The FDA has also not approved clove oil for the treatment of any medical condition, and they state that clove oil should not be used in place of medication prescribed by your doctor.
What does this all mean?
Well, it means that if you have no other treatment available in the middle of the night, and the taste of cloves does not activate your gag reflex, you will probably get some relief by grinding it between your teeth. Lamb roast might just not be on the menu for a while…
