Natural remedies for
toothache
• Dab some clove oil directly
on your bad tooth. Clove oil
has remarkable bacteriaslaying properties—and it
also has a numbing effect,
which is why it’s a longtime
folk remedy for toothache.
Today we know that this
extract from the clove bud
contains eugenol, which acts
as a local anesthetic. The oil
may sting at first, but then
blissful relief sets in.
• You can get the same
numbing effect from whole
cloves. Put a few in your
mouth, let them moisten until
they soften, bruise them a bit
between your non-hurting
molars to release their oil,
then hold the softened cloves
against your painful tooth for
up to half an hour.
• If you don’t have any
cloves, make a paste of
powdered ginger and red
(cayenne) pepper. Pour the
JOY FEELINGS
powdered ingredients in the
bottom of a cup, then add a
drop or two of water to make
the paste. Roll a small ball of
cotton into enough paste to
saturate it, and place it on
your painful tooth. (This can
irritate the gums, so keep the
cotton on the tooth.) In
addition to using the spices
together, you can try them
separately. Either one can
help relieve tooth pain.
• Rinse your mouth with
a tincture of myrrh. The
astringent effects help with
inflammation, and myrrh
offers the added benefit of
killing bacteria. Simmer 1
teaspoon of powdered myrrh
in 2 cups water for 30
minutes. Strain and let cool.
Rinse with 1 teaspoon of the
solution in a half-cup water
five to six times a day.
• Peppermint tea has a nice
flavor and some numbing
power. Put 1 teaspoon dried
peppermint leaves in 1 cup
boiling water and steep for 20
minutes. After the tea cools,