Some people say there’s no pain in the world like toothaches and it’s quite true – toothaches can be excruciatingly painful, especially when they prevent you from chewing and talking. Learn how to use essential oils for toothaches in this article.
What Causes Toothaches?
Also known as dental pain, a toothache is referred to as pain in the teeth or surrounding structures, mainly due to dental diseases.
Toothaches are caused by a wide variety of factors but the major one is tooth decays. Tooth decays happen when there is an accumulation of bad bacteria that erode the enamel by feeding on remains of food stuck on the teeth. Bacteria can do deep into the teeth and when they reach the root they end up striking the nerves leads to excruciating pain. Other causes of toothaches are:
- Inflammation of the pulp
- Dental trauma due to injuries
- Dentin hypersensitivity which happens because of exposed root surfaces
- Periodontitis
- Dental abscesses
- Gingivitis
- Dental diseases
- And others
How Do Essential Oils Help Toothaches?
Essential oils are pure plant extracts obtained by two major processes including steam distillation and mechanical expression of aromatic parts of plants such as their tree bark, roots, stems, flowers, fruit rinds, resin and others. They help alleviate toothaches and promote good dental health in the following ways:
- By fighting off bacteria and microbes that cause toothaches
- By reducing inflammation and gum soreness
- By acting as powerful analgesics that relieve pain
- By removing plaque and tartar
- By keeping the mouth clean and fresh
Research on Essential Oils for Toothaches
► Study One: Clove oil and its major compounds: eugenol and β-caryophyllene, make it powerful against oral bacteria which build up causing tooth decay and toothaches (1)
► Study Two: Cinnamon oil and clove oil are potent antibacterial substances that are very effective against some oral microbiota (2)
Top 7 Essential Oils for Toothaches
1. Clove (where to get it)
2. Myrrh (where to get it)
3. Peppermint (where to get it)
4. Cinnamon (where to get it)
5. Tea Tree (where to get it)
6. Chamomile (where to get it)
7. Eucalyptus (where to get it)
Find two very effective essential oil recipes for toothaches below!
Essential Oil Recipes for Toothaches
When using essential oils for toothaches, ensure to purchase USDA organic essential oils because there is a tiny possibility of ingestion. Just like any other oral care products, avoid ingesting any of these essential oil products.
1. Pain Relief Ointment
What you need
- 3 tbsp pure shea butter (where to get it)
- 1 tbsp coconut oil (where to get it)
- 10 drops clove
- 10 drops peppermint
- 10 drops cinnamon
- 2 oz amber glass jar (where to get it)
- Hand mixer (where to get it)
Method
- Into a large glass bowl, scoop in the shea butter and coconut oil. If your shea and coconut oil are hard, soften them in a double boiler first.
- Add the essential oils drop by drop.
- Use a hand mixer to beat the ingredients until well combined into a thick white cream. This may take about 5 – 7 minutes, depending on the speed of your hand mixer.
- Transfer to an amber glass jar.
- To use, dip a clean finger into the ointment and dab onto the painful area.
- Leave it on for at least 15 minutes for pain relief.
2. Direct Application Treatment
What you need
- 2 – 3 drops clove
- Clean cotton ball (where to get it)
Method
- Place a few drops of clove oil on a clean cotton ball.
- Put the cotton on the affected tooth and bite down or keep it on for a minimum of 15 minutes.
References
(1) Moon SE1, Kim HY, Cha JD. Synergistic effect between clove oil and its major compounds and antibiotics against oral bacteria. Arch Oral Biol. 2011 Sep;56(9):907-16. doi: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2011.02.005. Epub 2011 Mar 12.
(2) Gupta C1, Kumari A, Garg AP, Catanzaro R, Marotta F. Comparative study of cinnamon oil and clove oil on some oral microbiota. Acta Biomed. 2011 Dec;82(3):197-9.
Using essential oils for toothaches provides relief from terrible toothaches and keeps your mouth fresh and clean!