Quick answer: Laung for toothache works thanks to the bit of eugenol rich oil inside every clove. That's what numbs. Tuck one clove by the bad tooth and bite softly, or mix clove powder with a few drops of coconut oil and press the paste on for ten minutes. Relief? An hour, maybe two. It won't fix the tooth.
Ask any Indian grandmother what to do for daant dard. Nine out of ten will say laung.
You don't need a bottle for it. One clove out of the masala dabba, pushed in next to the tooth, done.
I work at an essential oil manufacturing facility in Nimbri, Panipat, where clove bud oil gets distilled from exactly these buds. So yes, I'm biased towards the oil. But a whole clove is still a smart first move when the kitchen is closer than the chemist. So let's do it right.
Why does laung actually help with tooth pain?
Fun fact: that clove in your biryani is actually a flower bud, dried in the sun. Press your thumbnail into one. Feels a bit oily, right? That oil is mostly eugenol.
Eugenol numbs. Not like an injection, more like a soft hush over the nerve for a while. Your dentist uses it too, actually, it's in the zinc oxide eugenol paste that goes into temporary fillings.
There's real research on this. Back in 2006, the Journal of Dentistry published a trial ("The effect of clove and benzocaine versus placebo as topical anesthetics") where clove gel held its own against 20% benzocaine. That's the numbing ingredient in most gels at your local chemist.
A whole clove releases far less eugenol than the oil does. That's both its weakness and its strength. Slower relief. Kinder to the gum, too.
How do you use a whole clove for toothache?
Look at the clove first. Is the little round head still on top? Good. For laung for toothache, that head matters, it's where most of the oil sits.
Swish some warm salty water around first. Now slip the clove in beside the sore tooth, on the cheek side. Bite. Gently! Twice is enough to crack it open.
Now leave it there. Give it a few minutes and it goes warm, then tingly, then sort of dull. Ten to fifteen minutes in total. Then out it comes.
Please don't grind it up and gulp the bits. One small swallowed bit won't hurt you. Sharp clove crumbs poking a sore gum though? Not fun.
How do you make clove paste for toothache?
Too slow for you? Try a paste. It spreads over more of the gum, so it kicks in a little quicker.
Take two or three cloves and pound them fine, the stone khal-batta is perfect for this. Pinch of powder, three or four drops of coconut oil (water's fine too), stir till it's thick like chutney.
Scoop a bit onto a cotton bud. Press it onto the aching tooth and the gum line next to it. Ten minutes is enough. Rinse it off when you're done.
Packet clove powder does work. Freshly pounded smells way stronger though, and that smell is literally the eugenol. More smell, more numbing, usually.
Is clove powder good for teeth every day?
Every day? I wouldn't. A pinch in your manjan sometimes is fine. Plenty of old family toothpowder recipes had laung in them anyway.
But clove is strong. Day after day, it starts bothering the gums and cheek lining. So save it for bad days. Or stir a tiny bit into a big jar of toothpowder, so each brushing gets only a whiff.
Which works fastest: laung, laung ka tel or clove oil?
Oil wins. Easily. It's concentrated, so a single diluted drop numbs within minutes. A clove paste comes second. The whole clove is slowest, but also the mildest.
Got a bottle at home already? Then read our guide on how to use clove oil for toothache, it gives you the exact drops and the cotton bud trick. Dilute it! Neat oil on a gum can actually burn.
Buying a bottle? Check the type. We tested both kinds in clove bud oil vs clove leaf oil, and bud oil wins for teeth. Ours, the clove bud essential oil, comes from these very buds, steam distilled, nothing mixed in.
Can you sleep with a clove in your mouth?
Better not. A whole clove can slip back toward your throat while you sleep. For a child, that's a choking risk.
Use the clove or the paste about fifteen minutes before bed, then take it out. Stack one more pillow. When you lie flat, the throbbing usually gets worse.
Is garlic clove the same as laung for toothache?
No, and people mix these up all the time online. A garlic "clove" is just one piece of the lahsun bulb. Laung grows on a tree, as a flower bud. Totally different plants.
Garlic has its own compound, allicin, and some people do press crushed garlic on a sore tooth. But raw garlic can burn the gum quite badly. If it's numbing you want, laung is the gentler and better studied option.
What do the numbers say about cloves and eugenol?
The NIH's LiverTox database says clove oil is somewhere around 70 to 90% eugenol. Closer to home, CIMAP Lucknow tested Indian clove bud oil for a 2005 Flavour and Fragrance Journal paper. Their number? 70.0%.
One clove weighs less than a gram. Not much oil in there at all. Compare that with a drop straight from the bottle and you see why one feels mild and the other packs a punch. That gap is the whole reason the oil needs diluting and the clove doesn't.
Paste maths, if you like numbers: about half a gram of powder, three or four drops of coconut oil. That covers one go.
Who should be careful with laung for toothache?
Small children first. A whole clove in a toddler's mouth can choke them. And the oil? Top shelf, locked if you can. Swallowed eugenol is risky for small kids.
Pregnant or feeding a baby? Laung in your dal is no problem, but ask your doctor before putting paste or oil on your gums. Blood thinners, or an extraction booked soon? Mention it to your dentist, eugenol might slow clotting. Ever had a rash or a swollen lip from cloves? Then don't.
When should you stop using laung and see a dentist?
Laung for toothache buys you time. The cavity is still there tomorrow. So is any infection.
Two days of pain? Swollen cheek? Fever, pus, a nasty taste that won't leave? Book the dentist. If the swelling is moving up toward your eye or down toward your throat, go today. Don't wait.
Curious about gums or bad breath too? Our piece on clove oil for teeth is honest about what clove can do, and what it can't.
Can businesses buy clove oil in bulk?
Yes. Toothpaste brands use clove bud oil. Manjan makers too, and mouthwash companies. We supply it wholesale and private label, as little as 100 ml or as much as 25 kg.
RV Organica has nine certifications in all, ISO 22000, HACCP, Halal, Kosher, FDA and MSME recognition among them. Want a Certificate of Analysis with your batch? Just ask.
How do you buy clove oil from RV Organica?
Order directly at rvorganica.com. Cross ₹999 and shipping is free. New here? Use FIRSTORDER at checkout. Bulk rates or a COA, mail info@rvorganica.com or ring +91 8937003005. We manufacture in Nimbri, Panipat, Haryana 132104, under our parent company RV International.
Need something to mix your paste or oil into? Our virgin coconut carrier oil is my go to. More bases live in the carrier oils collection. Everything else? The essential oils collection.
FAQs on laung for toothache
How long does laung take to stop tooth pain?
A whole clove usually starts working in five to ten minutes. Clove paste is a little quicker. You'll usually get an hour or two out of it. Depends what's wrong with the tooth.
How many cloves should I use for a toothache?
One whole clove at a time is enough. For paste, two or three ground cloves will make several applications. Piling on more just annoys your gums. It won't numb harder.
Can I swallow laung after using it for toothache?
A small bit, no problem, it's a kitchen spice after all. I'd still spit it out, especially if the gum is raw or bleeding.
Is laung good for wisdom tooth pain?
Yes, while it's pushing through, laung can take the edge off. Gum puffing up over it? Pus? Jaw won't open properly? That could be infection. Dentist, soon.
Does laung work for a cavity?
It can dull the pain from a cavity for a short while. It can't repair the hole. Filling it is a dentist's job, and the sooner the better.
Final thoughts
Laung for toothache is one of those nuskhe that actually holds up. Costs nothing. Already in your kitchen. Backed by real eugenol research. One clove or a dab of paste, ten minutes, and yes, still call the dentist.
I write this from inside a certified essential oil unit in Panipat, where we distil clove bud oil from the very same buds sitting in your masala dabba.