Lavanga (Clove): Toothache Evidence, Dosage & Safety

TL;DR

Lavanga (clove, Syzygium aromaticum) is the dried flower bud of a tropical tree; its oil's main component is eugenol. Europe's herbal regulator recognizes it for temporary toothache relief, and a small RCT found clove gel matched benzocaine for dental pain. Clove oil is potent: never swallow it, and keep it away from young children.

(55 words. Sources: EMA community herbal monograph 2011; Alqareer et al. 2006 RCT; herbal topical-anesthetics review, PMC.)

What it is

Lavanga is the dried flower bud of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merrill & L. M. Perry, an evergreen tree in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) native to the Maluku Islands of Indonesia and now cultivated across the tropics. The European Medicines Agency's herbal monograph defines the medicinal preparation as the essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the dried flower buds (EMA/HMPC/534924/2010). The oil's dominant constituent is eugenol, the majority of the oil, with beta-caryophyllene the next most significant component, and eugenol is the compound responsible for both the numbing effect and the safety concerns (IJSR review of lavanga/article/therapeutic-and-medicinal-uses-of-lavangaa-review/MjI5ODk=/?is=1&b1=85&k=22)). In trials it performed comparably to benzocaine gel for brief topical numbing, which is why this folk remedy has an unusually solid evidence trail (PMC review).

Traditional use

In Ayurveda, lavanga is a classic remedy for oral complaints: clove oil or powder applied to the aching tooth for dantashool (toothache), and mouth rinses for oral ulcers, gingivitis, and foul breath. Ayurvedic reviews also record its use as a digestive stimulant and carminative, and for cough and respiratory complaints (IJSR review of lavanga/article/therapeutic-and-medicinal-uses-of-lavangaa-review/MjI5ODk=/?is=1&b1=85&k=22)). Europe's herbal regulator has gone further than most traditional-use recognitions: its community monograph grants traditional-use registration to clove oil for (1) symptomatic treatment of minor inflammations of the mouth or throat, and (2) temporary relief of toothache due to a dental cavity: explicitly noting this is "exclusively based upon long-standing use" (EMA monograph). Traditional use is not clinical proof; the trial evidence follows below.

What modern research says

Dental pain — randomized trials

The key trial is Alqareer et al. (2006, Journal of Dentistry): 73 adult volunteers had four topical agents applied to the gum, homemade clove gel, 20% benzocaine gel, and two matching placebos, followed by needle sticks, with pain rated on a 100 mm visual analogue scale. Both clove and benzocaine produced significantly lower pain scores than placebos (p = 0.005), with no significant difference between clove and benzocaine (abstract reproduced at hortus-medicus.ch). A 2025 randomized trial in 44 children aged 6–10 undergoing dental procedures likewise found clove gel equally effective as 20% benzocaine gel for procedural pain (Egyptian Dental Journal). An exploratory review of herbal topical anesthetics in dentistry confirms the pattern across the small trials: clove gel performs comparably to benzocaine for needle-prick pain (PMC).

Caveats

These are small, short-term trials of topical application for procedural pain: they support clove as a brief numbing measure, not as treatment of the underlying dental disease. The same review notes the main drawback of clove-based preparations: eugenol can cause local irritation and mild cytotoxic and hypersensitivity reactions (PMC). The EMA monograph is explicit that toothache relief with clove oil is "only a provisional measure" and that "dental attention should be sought as soon as possible" (EMA monograph).

Dosage

The EMA monograph gives traditional-use posology for adults and the elderly (use in under-18s is not recommended for lack of data):

These are the monograph's registered traditional-use doses: research doses of specific trial gels (e.g., the Alqareer clove gel) were study preparations, not retail standards. Clove oil is for topical/oromucosal use, never for swallowing.

Safety & contraindications

FAQs

Does clove help with toothache?

For temporary relief, yes: with limits. A 2006 RCT found clove gel relieved needle-stick dental pain as effectively as 20% benzocaine, both beating placebo (Alqareer et al. abstract), and Europe's herbal regulator registers clove oil for temporary toothache relief (EMA monograph). It numbs the pain; it does not fix decay, cracks, or abscesses. See a dentist promptly.

How do you use clove oil for a toothache?

Per the EMA monograph: soak a small piece of cotton wool in the undiluted oil (or a ≥50% solution), or use a 20% gel on a cotton bud, and apply it directly to the decayed part of the tooth while avoiding the gums. You can repeat after 20 minutes and then every 2 hours if needed, but not for more than a week (EMA monograph).

Is it safe to swallow clove oil?

No. Clove oil is for topical and oromucosal use only. Overdose, including as little as 5–10 ml swallowed by a small child, can cause life-threatening CNS depression, acidosis, liver damage, seizures, and coma (EMA monograph).

Can children use clove oil for teething or tooth pain?

Not recommended. The EMA does not recommend clove oil under age 18 for lack of adequate data, and oral clove oil is considered likely unsafe in children, with reports of seizures and liver damage from small amounts (EMA monograph; WebMD). See a pediatric dentist instead.

Does clove thin the blood?

Eugenol appears to slow blood clotting, so people with bleeding disorders should be cautious with clove oil, and it should be stopped at least two weeks before scheduled surgery (WebMD).

Sources

Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Herbal products can interact with medications and are not suitable for everyone. Talk to a qualified healthcare practitioner before use — especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, managing a medical condition, or taking prescription medicines.