How To Use Clove Essential Oil To Treat Toothache | 3 Top Ways !

 

Applying clove essential oil also called as lavang oil in Hindi is one of the most popular remedies for tooth pain. Cloves are actually the flower buds of a tree whose botanical name is Syzygium Aromaticum. Cloves are native to Indonesia but now it is grown in many countries including India. I have always wanted to grow clove tree in our farm and I even planted one few months back. But due to the severe drought we are facing now, it just died last week which really upset me. Clove is one spice that I always stock in my pantry as I use it always to season the curries and rice. Now lately I stock up clove essential oil too to use in remedies as it has wonderful medicinal properties. For treating toothache, I use clove essential oil as such or use it along with pounded cloves for making mouth wash. Clove based mouth washes are not only effective for treating toothache, it also treats tooth decay, tooth cavity, gum diseases, gum pain and tooth infection. Eugenol is the main bio active compound of clove that is found in very high concentrations, almost 89% of clove essential oil contains eugenol. Three types of essential oils are distilled from clove tree - clove bud essential oil, clove leaf oil and clove stem oil. Out of these three, clove bud essential oil is the most widely used and I would suggest using it for toothache. The reason clove essential oil is wonderful for treating tooth pain is because it has powerful analgesic, antimicrobial and anti inflammatory properties. It not only helps reduce the pain and inflammation, it also helps treat the infection very effectively. Another interesting fact about clove oil is it is a very effective anesthetic. It is so effective that it can effectively replace the traditional gel benzocaine used for reducing the pain before needle insertion or tooth extraction. You can read the study that proves it here. Clove Essential Oil Side Effects: Eugenol present in clove essential oil should not be ingested in large doses, it can be rapidly absorbed and enter our blood stream. Eugenol is prooxidant in large doses! If we use clove essential oil repeatedly often in large doses, it can cause intense irritation and some times can lead to tissue burns too. Try not to swallow clove essential oil and make sure to use just a tiny drop of clove oil on the affected teeth. Pregnant women should not use this remedy. Where to buy clove essential oil for treating toothache? You can easily order clove essential oil online. While buying make sure it says clove essential oil and not clove oil as clove oil is just an infusion which can be easily made at home like given below...

 

5 Top Teeth Benefits & Uses Of Coconut Oil Brushing For Whitening, Cleaning, Gingivitis, Tooth Decay & Bad Breath

 

I enjoy making my own products and nothing makes me more happy than using a product that I made it myself from scratch. The latest addition to that list is this homemade coconut oil toothpaste. Though I have tried homemade tooth powder, I haven't attempted toothpaste at home before. Tooth paste usage dates back centuries, our ancestors used tooth pastes made from ingredients like charcoal, crushed bones, barks, egg shells, myrrh, etc and overtime we have improved on the recipes to where it is now. Though we now get a variety of toothpastes in all colors and flavors, the primary usage of toothpaste is to remove plaque which is the main reason for many dental diseases, bad breath and protect and strengthen our teeth. I usually spend a lot of time searching for a perfect recipe and this time it took unusually long because I was so particular about what I wanted. Usually homemade tooth paste recipes consist of ingredients like baking soda, coconut oil, essential oils, calcium powder, hydrogen peroxide along with sweeteners like xylitol or stevia. Though xylitol is said to be good for teeth, I didn't want to have it in my house as it is dangerous for pets. Pure calcium carbonate powder was hard to get in my local shop so I wanted a recipe that included coconut oil, no sweeteners, only common kitchen ingredients but a recipe that will rival any store bought paste. I tried 3 or 4 recipes and the minute I tried this recipe I knew I will like it which I really did. It smelt really great, had only common kitchen ingredients, cleaned my teeth really well along with leaving my teeth white and shiny. There is a reason I was so particular about using coconut oil, it has so many benefits when used for brushing teeth. 1. Coconut Oil For Gingivitis: Coconut oil adheres to the bacteria in the mouth more effectively than other oils and it has anti microbial properties so brushing with coconut oil greatly reduces gingivitis. It also strengthen the gums. 2. Coconut Oil For Bad Breath: Since it effectively removes the bacteria in the mouth it reduces bad breath. Also adding ingredients like cinnamon and cloves helps too. 3. Coconut oil For Cleaning: I know many will be skeptical about using an oil for cleaning the mouth but please remember that our elders were using oil pulling for cleaning the mouth. Coconut oil cleans the mouth really well, give this paste a try and you will agree with me. 4. Coconut Oil For Tooth Decay: Since coconut oil has anti microbial properties, it greatly prevents the bacteria that causes tooth decay if used regularly. 5. Coconut Oil For Teeth Whitening: Teeth whitening at home is usually done with hydrogen peroxide which causes more harm than good. Though I didn't expect instant results, surprisingly I felt my teeth whiter and more shiny immediately after using this tooth paste. This homemade coconut oil tooth paste recipe can be made in a matter of minutes and stores really well too but please follow the exact measurements for best results. Though it looks simple it does work really well..... 

 

5 Top Side Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide for Teeth Whitening at Home

I have always been hesitant about using hydrogen peroxide in any of my preparations as I have always felt it dries out the skin. After years of being hesitant about using it, finally I bought a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and started using it for the last few months. I found that it is an excellent cleaner and I also tried it for teeth whitening. When I wrote about the uses of hydrogen peroxide in the blog few weeks back, a dentist wrote back saying that though it was famous few years back among dentists now many prefer not to use hydrogen peroxide due to it's bad effects. As I was already having my doubts regarding hydrogen peroxide and since it is a favorite method of whitening teeth for many, I thought I will do my own research about it. In my humble opinion whether it is homemade or store bought we should fully understand the pros and cons of the product before using it. Teeth whitening using hydrogen peroxide has been done all over the world for years and over the years the usage has only increased. Hydrogen peroxide is sold in different concentrations and the most common for house hold use is the one with 3 % concentration. Here in India the main problem is usually nothing is specified on the bottle so I would advice caution if using it for teeth whitening. Some use hydrogen peroxide directly from a bottle or mixed with certain ingredients like baking soda. But most people prefer to buy teeth whitening kits and almost all the teeth whitening kits contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.  Carbamide peroxide breaks down into hydrogen peroxide when applied and so even it specifies carbamide peroxide, hydrogen peroxide is the main ingredient. Manufactures prefer carbamide peroxide because it is more stable than hydrogen peroxide. I was surprised to learn that every year people spend millions on teeth whitening products alone! If you prefer to do teeth whitening at home, first check for the percentage of the hydrogen peroxide and please don't fall into the trap of thinking of using higher concentrations for faster results. Usually hydrogen peroxide is considered safe in smaller doses and when we go above we experience very bad side effects. If opting for teeth whitening using hydrogen peroxide at home, keep these following tips in mind. Try not to use hydrogen peroxide often to whiten the teeth and definitely not multiple times in a week. Also the time the hydrogen peroxide left on the teeth is very important. Don't use products containing higher doses of hydrogen peroxide but if you opt to do it, try not to do it without teeth protection and make sure not to use hydrogen peroxide while having mouth ulcers.....

3 Amazing Teeth Benefits of Licorice & Neem Chew Sticks | Tooth Brush

 

Few years back, it used to be a common sight in my village, to see someone plucking a neem branch in the morning, make a tooth brush out of it and brush. But all that is changing now, it is a rare sight to see someone use neem bark as a tooth brush. With very attractive advertisements for commercial tooth paste and brushes increasing everyday, our humble neem sticks don't stand a chance. I remember one of our relatives, who was well into his late eighties used to proudly say to me that he can bite into anything. He was right, with the traditional diet rich in natural fibers, less in sugar and using natural tooth brushes, I am very sure our elders had a stronger teeth than us. Both neem and licorice can be used to brush our teeth daily, and both have amazing teeth benefits. I am not suggesting that we should only brush our teeth with these natural brushes, but we should try to use these natural brushes, as often as we can. Benefits of brushing with natural brushes are : 1. For Gum disease & Tooth decay: Nothing can beat gum diseases than these natural brushes. Especially neem tooth brush has been known to prevent tooth decay. Chewing on the tender bark of these roots, helps the juices to flow into our mouth. These antibacterial juices prevent gum diseases very effectively. 2. For Mouth odor: Moth odor is usually caused by the bacteria present in the mouth. Since both neem and licorice root have antibacterial properties, they prevent mouth odor very effectively. If you suffer from mouth odor regularly, regularly use one of these to brush your teeth before going to bed for a few days. You will find the problem gone very soon. 3. For Tooth Ache: nothing can beat tooth ache like these two roots. When you have a toothache, take a licorice root and chew on it, make sure to do it using the affected tooth. You will find the toothache gone very soon. Licorice root is sold dry, so you can use it wherever you are but with neem we usually use only the fresh bark. Though finding fresh neem bark is difficult for some, it can double up as a tongue cleaner too. Peel of the thin layer from a fresh bark, bend it to get a u shape, your homemade tongue cleaner is ready! For children, chewing on neem will be difficult, as it is bitter, but they can be taught to chew on licorice and I am sure they will do it readily, as licorice is sweet. If they use these from young age, chance of them getting dental problems will greatly reduce.

 

DIY: Homemade Salt & Mint Tooth Powder Recipe

This homemade salt and mint tooth powder recipe is excellent in preventing tooth decay and helps fight mouth odor very effectively. This is a natural home remedy that was prescribed for anyone who suffered from recurrent dental problems. Mint has natural antibacterial properties and used as a tooth powder like this without any chemical additives, it is very effective. I am sure, very few of us dislike the fresh smell of mint, I for one love anything made with mint, except mint chocolates. Many tooth pastes on the markets have extracts of mint and even most of the breath fresheners have mint flavor, as it helps fight the build up of plaque in the mouth. It has always been recommended to chew on fresh mint leaves for dental hygiene, but it is not practical to get fresh mint leaves everyday. On the other hand, using mint leaves in dried form gives us the same benefits and it can be stored well for weeks. This tooth powder also has salt. Salt has been used as a mouth rinse to treat mouth ulcers for ages and many dentists recommend salt water mouth rinse to reduce the pain and fight inflammation. To make this homemade tooth powder, first collect fresh mint that are not sprayed with pesticides. Spread it on a plate and sun dry it still crisp. Take the common crystal salt that we use for cooking and powder it finely in a mortar and pestle. Once it is pounded well, add the dried mint leaves and pound every thing together till it becomes a fine powder. This powder can be stored for weeks in a glass bottle. To use, take the required amount of powder in a small cup. Wet your tooth brush in water and dip it in the powder and brush your mouth and rinse off. This powder whitens the teeth naturally and freshens your breath. Encourage kids to use this homemade tooth powder at least weekly twice to prevent tooth decay. This is especially important, if they have a sweet tooth. If you have any dental problems, use this powder daily to get good relief, else use it weekly twice to remain free of any of dental problems.

 

Neem Mouthwash: The Benefits + DIY Recipe

 

This natural, homemade mouthwash is made with one of my favorite ingredients, neem. In India, neem mouth wash is used for dental health for centuries. The tender branches of neem tree were used as a tooth brush and this habit is still prevalent even today, though it is sadly diminishing. All of us know that, each and every part of neem is used a medicine. Especially, this homemade mouthwash made with neem, is very effective in treating gum related diseases. There was a study conducted about the effect of neem as a mouth wash. Forty five subjects with gum related problems were selected and they were divided into three groups. The first group were given saline mouth rinse twice daily. The second group were given medicated mouthwash twice daily and the third group were given neem mouthwash. The results proved that neem mouthwash and medicated mouthwash showed significant reduction of bleeding and other dental diseases. Though both had the same results, the neem mouthwash had no side effects when compared to the medicated mouthwash. Making our own homemade mouthwash can be equally effective like a store bought neem mouthwash. To make the homemade mouthwash, collect fresh neem leaves, separate the leaves and the stalk. Don't throw away the stalk, cut them into small pieces. Boil water in a pan with crystal salt and the cut stalks of the neem. Once it comes to a rolling boil, add the fresh leaves and switch off. Let it cool, strain and bottle. I felt this method of boiling only the stalks and adding the leaves at the end, reduced the bitterness of the mouthwash. This mouthwash can be stored in the refrigerator and used regularly. People with swollen gums, mouth ulcers,  mouth odor and bleeding gums will greatly benefit this homemade mouthwash. Try to use this homemade mouthwash regularly for few days, both morning and night to get the best results. When we use this mouthwash, there will be a slight bitter taste but that will go away, if you rinse your mouth again with water. To use, rinse the mouth with 1 tbsp of mouthwash after brushing twice daily. 

Haritaki/Terminalia Chebula Health Benefits: Haritaki Mouth Rinse | Wash for Mouth Ulcer

This haritaki mouth rinse treats mouth ulcers very effectively. Haritaki has amazing health benefits and it is one herb that we should always have at home. Having mouth ulcers can be very painful. Mouth ulcers makes eating very difficult and it affects both young and old. I was surprised to learn that, one out of five adults suffer from mouth ulcers. Citrus and certain acidic fruits like strawberries and figs worsen the condition. There is a very effective home remedy for mouth ulcer. It is the infusion made with "Haritaki (Hindi Name)/ Kadukkai (Tamil Name)/ Harde whole (English Name)". Haritaki is a fruit of "Terminalia chebula" tree and it has a special place in Indian Ayurveda and we also use it extensively as a home remedy. For this remedy, kadukkai is broken using mortar and pestle. Don't pound it too finely, just break the outer covering. Then boil the broken haritaki with a cup of water. The color of the water will change to dull yellow color. Cool this infusion and rinse your mouth with this, several times a day. This mouth ulcer home remedy usually gives good relief. The infusion is not bitter, so it can be safely used by children too. Haritaki stores well, so stock up on this medical wonder, to treat yourself and your family.