- Definition and origins of the clove
- The benefits of cloves on oral health
- Cloves: Oral Health Uses
- Where to find the clove?
- Clove and toothache: precautions for use
Definition and origins of the clove
Cloves are the flowers of the clove tree, taking the shape of a nail. Once dried, they turn brown and are used in cooking or for dental care. Clove contains a powerful active ingredient called eugenol, which gives off a characteristic smell of the dentist’s office. Indeed, eugenol is used in the composition of many dental products, for its virtues as powerful as they are effective, recognized by the European Commission. Cloves are also used in Ayurvedic medicine, an ancestral traditional Indian medicine.
The benefits of cloves on oral health
THE cloveand especially eugenol, has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic action which helps to reduce dental sensitivity during pain or toothache, which is usually very painful. Clove also has an antiseptic action, participating in the destruction of potentially pathogenic bacteria in the mouth.
chew a clove a few minutes also reduces bad breath, common in case of smoldering dental abscess!
Attention nevertheless, the clove is a temporary solution, while waiting for the appointment with the dentist, which can be effective on a light and temporary condition. In case of acute, recurrent pain or dental abscess, a consultation is essential.
Cloves: Oral Health Uses
Cloves can be used in several ways:
- In direct application : slightly crush a clove between your fingers, place it in contact with the tooth. Crushing it releases its active ingredients more quickly, but it can also be placed directly on the painful area and kept in the mouth for 30 minutes. So you can crush it over time to gradually release its oil.
- In mouthwash : infuse 4 or 5 cloves in a cup of boiling water, let cool. Make a mouthwash after each meal. Mouthwash is a good alternative if the pain causes contact with the clove or finger to be impossible.
- In the form ofessential oil : Place 1 drop of clove essential oil mixed with a drop of vegetable oil on the fingertip, apply against the tooth and massage the gums. This essential oil, which contains between 85 and 95% eugenol, has a strong anesthetic power. It is sometimes preferable to dilute clove essential oil with a little cooking vegetable oil. Indeed, essential oils can be irritating to mucous membranes such as the gums. Warning: it is contraindicated in pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 6 years old.
Where to find the clove?
Cloves are easy to find in all good grocery stores and in the spice aisle of supermarkets.
Clove and toothache: precautions for use
Clove eugenol is potentially allergenic in high doses. The essential oil, which contains a high concentration, must always be diluted at the risk of harming the gums. As a reminder, essential oils are to be avoided in pregnant and breastfeeding women and in children under 6 years old. Even for children over 12, it is recommended to seek the advice of a health professional before using an essential oil. Cloves are natural and effective remedies for dental pain, but they are meant to provide temporary pain relief, while waiting for a dental appointment.
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