Dental concerns are a common condition with 93 percent of Americans planning to see a dentist in 2021. Are essential oils for toothaches a natural alternative to making that dreaded–and potentially expensive–appointment?
Only a few conditions are as much of a nuisance as a toothache. When the deep-seated tooth pain strikes, productivity is lost and in more severe cases, sanity follows. Although several conditions can cause a toothache, they can most often be attributed to gum diseases and cavities, which essential oils might be able to help with.
If you're wondering how they can help relieve toothache pain and which ones to use, read on!
What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are increasingly popular and may need no further introductions, but in case you’ve missed all our essential oil tutorials, let's do a quick recap.
Essential oils are natural extracts that come from different plants. They’re predominantly extracted from plant parts like stems, leaves, roots, flowers and fruits.
Maybe you’re familiar with a few of these plant-based oils, but there are actually over a hundred! Each oil has unique scents and potential health benefits.
Based on centuries of use, essential oils have garnered a reputation as excellent natural remedies to various afflictions from pain and inflammatory concerns to infection and mood modulation. Interestingly, a lot of contemporary research supports their therapeutic potential.
Reading on, we'll go over some specific oils that are known to provide relief for toothaches and how to use them safely and effectively.
Recommended Essential Oil For Toothaches
Let's go over four essential oils that can relieve toothache and a guide for effective application.
Clove Essential Oil
This is an oil extract from the clove buds. You may see them in foods for added seasoning. Clove contains remarkably high eugenol, a compound known for its antibacterial, analgesic (pain relieving), and anti-inflammatory properties. This highly sought-after compound makes up for about 90% of clove's overall composition.
With its analgesic properties, topical application of clove oil may help relieve toothaches and gum pain.
Even more, its antibacterial ingredients can reduce certain bacteria that expose you to cavities.
Studies have shown clove oil’s potency in reducing calcium loss in the teeth, helping to prevent decay.
Related studies also reveal that clove essential oil may deliver remineralizing effects which could help strengthen your tooth enamel, protecting it from the discomforting sensations caused by sweet, cold, or hot stimuli.
You can rub this essential oil directly on a sensitive tooth. If you feel any notable discomfort, dilute with distilled water or your preferred carrier oil before applying to your tooth.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is widely loved for calming scent. This same effect makes it an age-old contender in aromatherapy.
Although there are limited studies on lavender essential oil for tooth pain, research reports show lavender’s ability to curb stress and alter pain perception.
A systematic review suggested that inhaling lavender could help curb pain across a wide spectrum of different health conditions and age groups.
Lavender is rich in linalool, a compound with good antifungal and antibacterial properties. These contents are thought to help reduce plaque commonly found on the teeth and combat cavities.
For the best results, light a lavender candle or place your oil in a diffuser and inhale. Check out our essential oil diffuser collection.
Drinking lavender tea is also a great way to use essential oils' antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil is an extract from the leaves and flowers of the peppermint plant. It’s mostly known for its high menthol content and cooling effect. This property is an analgesic that helps mask pain sensation.
Peppermint essential oil has also been praised for its ability to reduce biofilm on the tooth. Little wonder then, why it’s a regular ingredient in dental formulations – think mouthwash and toothpaste!
To use peppermint essential oil for tooth pain, submerge a peppermint tea bag in warm water. Place the bag directly on the trouble spot until the pain starts to ease and repeat as necessary.
You can also apply some peppermint oil directly to the affected area, but keep in mind pure oils can cause irritations, so you may want to dilute in a carrier first!
Frankincense Essential Oil
Also called olibanum, your frankincense essential oil is an extract of the Boswellia tree resin.
Research shows that this essential oil contains anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Ths oil is commonly used across the globe, most notably in China where it's used alongside myrrh oil for managing inflammation and pain.
For oral formulas, frankincense contains antibacterial properties which makes it a trusted partner for gum disease and cavities.
To administer, rub frankincense essential oil directly on your sensitive tooth with a cotton ball.
Repeat three times daily or more. Dilute the oil if irritation occurs.
Can I Replace My Doctor's Prescriptions With Essential Oils?
Evidence shows some essential oils may come in handy for temporary relief to the debilitating pain that trails tooth troubles. These oils are also thought to have a few other oral benefits.
That said, note that these recommendations are not an intended replacement for any professional dental check or prescriptions. They can, however, help alleviate your discomfort before your next (or first) appointment with a tooth specialist.
Safety Concerns Using Essential Oils For Toothache
While using essential oils for toothaches is a great decision, buying top-quality essential oils is just as important.
Note that these oils are not FDA regulated. This leaves buyers at the mercy of manufacturers.
Honestly, telling apart pure essential oils from others with unnecessary harmful ingredients can be tricky.
For your safety,
- Do your homework and opt for products from trusted manufacturers. Always read the label to see what ingredients are featured. Check for buyer reviews and weigh what previous buyers are saying about your preferred product.
- To save yourself the stress, consider MOXĒ pure essential oil blends.
Try Our Breathe blend that contains peppermint and lavender oil listed above for toothache relief!
Allergic Reactions
That said, note that essential oils in their pure state can be skin irritants or even toxic to ingest and may also cause allergic reactions.
So, before you use it on your tooth or gum, consider applying it to a spot on your arm or leg. This helps test toxicity and prevents any resulting adverse effects.
If you feel any notable discomfort, dilute with distilled water or your preferred carrier oil before applying to your tooth.
Persistent Toothaches
If the pain persists after application, discuss with your dentist.
Also, consult your tooth specialist if your toothache comes with:
- Fever
- Swelling
- Oozing pus
- Inflammation
Takeaway
Essential oils are increasingly attracting incredible reviews for good reasons.
Oils like frankincense, clove, peppermint and lavender have shown great potential in managing toothache and general pains.
It's best practice to dilute your essential oils for toothache with distilled water or carrier oils before applying them to your teeth or gum.
All said, remember no essential oil for toothache can replace a professional dental evaluation or treatment. Rather, these oils may support or relieve your tooth pain before your next dental appointment.
Lastly, while several research studies and user reports support the essential oil recommendations above, these effects might only be possible with top-quality pure essential oil products.
Not sure where to look for your 100% natural essential oils for tooth pain? No worries!
MOXĒ is a trusted brand that goes above and beyond the industry standard. Our oils are rigorously tested for quality by our Quality Assurance team. We not only save you the stress of navigating through confusing products available on the market, but we offer one-on-one assistance to ensure you find the product that is right for you.