Cloves contain eugenol and are very effective for digestion, but especially for dental pain. Along with their essential oil, they have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties.
They can be used in different ways: as an essential oil applied to the tooth or gum with a cotton swab, as a cream for muscle and joint inflammation, or by inhalation for ten to fifteen minutes after adding a few drops to warm water. Clove powder can also be used by mixing it with a cream.
Furthermore, the Arabs made frequent use of cloves for gastritis; in this case, only a small amount should be used, and it is best mixed with chamomile and marjoram. It is not recommended to take cloves orally except on medical advice.
A toothache: the step-by-step method
- Rinse the mouth with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a glass) to remove debris and soothe the gum.
- The whole clove: place a clove against the painful tooth, between the cheek and the gum, and chew it gently so it releases its oil. Keep it in place for 15 to 20 minutes. This is the safest method, the one grandmothers used.
- Essential oil, the professor's method: one drop of clove essential oil in half a teaspoon of olive oil, dip a small piece of cotton and place it on the tooth or in the cavity, without touching the tongue or the lip. Renew after two hours if needed.
- Powder: a pinch of ground cloves mixed with a drop of oil, applied with cotton, if no essential oil is available.
- No more than two or three days: beyond that, the mucous membrane becomes irritated, and above all, the cause is not being treated.
Why it works: eugenol
Clove contains 70 to 90% eugenol in its oil. Eugenol has two actions that explain everything: it blocks the transmission of pain at the nerve level, like a mild local anesthetic, and it kills bacteria and fungi in the mouth. A 2017 review examines its antimicrobial mechanisms, active against the germs responsible for cavities and periodontitis (Crit Rev Microbiol, 2017). Dentists still use it: "zinc oxide-eugenol" cement serves as a temporary dressing, and the pastes placed in a painful socket after an extraction (dry socket) contain eugenol; a 2026 review catalogs the herbal remedies tested for this indication, with clove at the top of the list (Eur J Dent, 2026).
The professor's other uses, with their limits
| Use | How | What you should know |
|---|---|---|
| Tooth pain, gums | Whole clove or diluted drop on cotton | Effective while waiting to see the dentist; does not treat a cavity or an abscess |
| Muscles and joints | 2 drops of essential oil in a tablespoon of vegetable oil or a small amount of cream, as a massage | Warming; test on a small area; never on damaged skin |
| Inhalation (cold, sinuses) | 2 to 3 drops in a bowl of hot water, 10 to 15 minutes under a towel | Not for children or asthmatics |
| Gastritis, digestion | One or two whole cloves infused with chamomile and marjoram, as the professor advises | Small amount, as an infusion only; never the essential oil by mouth |
| Breath, teeth | Chew a clove after a meal | Siwak remains the primary Sunnah for the mouth |
The dose that becomes dangerous
The professor states it clearly: no clove by mouth without medical advice. He is referring to the essential oil, and he is right to insist. Concentrated eugenol is toxic to the liver: a two-year-old child who swallowed clove oil developed liver necrosis and severe coagulation disorders (Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis, 1992). A few milliliters are enough in a small child. Essential oil bottles should be stored out of reach, and it should never be put in a baby bottle, a pacifier, or on the gums of a teething infant. The whole clove, as an infusion or in cooking, does not pose this problem.
Contraindications and precautions
Clove essential oil: never undiluted on the skin or mucous membrane (burns), never swallowed, never for children under six, pregnant or nursing women. Eugenol slows blood clotting: caution with anticoagulants and before a tooth extraction (stop two or three days beforehand). A toothache that wakes you at night, a swollen cheek, a fever, or a persistent bad taste signal an abscess: clove only masks it, see a doctor without delay, since a dental infection can spread.
Frequently asked questions
How do you use clove against a toothache?
The simplest way: a whole clove placed against the tooth, between the cheek and the gum, chewed gently for 15 to 20 minutes. Otherwise, a drop of essential oil diluted in a little olive oil, on a piece of cotton placed on the tooth. No more than two or three days.
Can you put clove oil directly on the tooth?
Diluted, yes, with cotton and without touching the tongue. Undiluted, it burns the mucous membrane. And never swallowed: concentrated eugenol is toxic to the liver.
Does clove cure cavities?
No. It numbs the pain and kills some of the bacteria, but the cavity keeps progressing. It is a stopgap remedy that buys time to get to the dentist, not a treatment.
Can it be used for a teething baby?
No, never the essential oil: a few milliliters swallowed caused severe liver damage in a two-year-old child. For teething, a cool teething ring and massaging the gum with a clean finger are preferable.
Is clove mentioned in the Sunnah?
It does not appear in the hadiths; it comes from classical Arab pharmacopoeia, which Muslim physicians described extensively. The professor places it among the remedies of this tradition, alongside siwak, which is itself an established Sunnah for the mouth.
