I went to the dentist today for a checkup and while I was there, a person showed up with severe pain. After the dentist took care of this emergency, he told me that all he did was pack the person's tooth with medicine that was oil of cloves. He suggested that I get some, if I could find it. He did not know if it was sold otc. My pharmacy had some and I stocked up. He also suggested that I get a syringe (without the needle) and use the syringe to get a germ killing mouth wash (Listerine or hydrogen peroxide) up under the gum line to prevent infection. He gave me a small soft hollow plastic tip to use with a syring for this purpose. It is called a Perioflex made by Oral-B. This will be a great preventive measure to use for your dental health.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), September 30, 1999

Answers

I've also heard about oil of clove. Good stuff.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), September 30, 1999.

I have used oil of cloves for dental pain and it works great BUT it is very, very strong. You will forevermore hate the sight, smell and taste of cloves. Forewarned is forearmed (HEY a great Y2K slogan!!) Brenda

-- brenda (brubert@aol.com), October 01, 1999.

Dear Carol,After reading your post I went into town but could not get any oil of cloves.Instead bought some whole cloves.I've now discovered that the oil is distilled from the leaves of the clove tree & the cloves are the flower buds.Apparently a bruised whole clove placed on the site of the toothache will work as well.

Many thanks for the tip.

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), October 02, 1999.

Carol,

I learned the same thing a few years ago when a dentist put a temporary filling in. It was definitely oil of cloves!

And do be careful if you use this on little ones. Oil of cloves is strong and can blister tender skin around the mouth.

-- Dian (bdp@accessunited.com), October 03, 1999.