Aromatherapy, the medicinal use of plants' essential oils, can offer temporary relief from your toothache while you wait for to see the dentist. Certain chemical compounds found in extracts of such plants as clove and lavender affect your teeth and gums, and their aroma is believed to trigger parts of your brain to promote healing. Due to possible adverse effects of essential oils, you should practice aromatherapy only under the supervision of a specialist. Aromatherapy should not be considered a substitute for appropriate dental care.
Clove Essential Oil
A 2007 peer-reviewed article in a North Carolina State University online journal identifies the active ingredient in clove essential oil as eugenol. This substance has anesthetic properties that are useful not only in aromatherapy, but also in modern dentistry.
Lavender Essential Oil
Another essential oil traditionally used for toothache is lavender, according to Joe-Ann McCoy, writing as doctoral candidate at North Carolina State University. Lavender contains up to 30 percent linalol, a nontoxic terpene alcohol that is naturally antimicrobial. During wartime, it was used to disinfect wounds. Also, its aroma has calming, sedative properties.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint oil has antiseptic and local anesthetic effects that make it a useful first-aid tool in treating toothache, according to a 2004 medical botany presentation at the University of Tulsa. The oil also provides a popular flavoring agent for toothpaste and mouthwash.
Suggested Application
A World of Aromatherapy suggests adding a few drops of peppermint or clove essential oil to a cold compress. Press that to the area where it hurts. You can also put one or two drops of essential oil on a cotton ball that you'll apply to your gums in the area of the toothache.
Cautions
A toothache usually indicates decay, which can result in an infection. While you can use essential oils to relieve the pain, you should still seek appropriate dental treatment. Be careful not to swallow any essential oils applied to the inside of your mouth.
Clove and peppermint essential oils are strongly concentrated and can irritate the skin. Peppermint should not be taken during pregnancy because of its antispasmodic properties.
Lavender has been associated with several side effects, including nausea, vomiting, headache and chills--from inhaling it or absorbing it through the skin, according to Aetna's InteliHealth website.
References
- North Carolina State University: Chemical Composition and Content of Essential Oil from the Bud of Cultivated Turkish Clove
- North Carolina State University: Lavender--History, Taxonomy, and Production
- University of Tulsa Aerobiology Lab: Peppermint Oil
- A World of Aromatherapy: Toothache
- A World of Aromatherapy: Peppermint
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