Home Tooth Remedies

Have you ever heard of a natural fix for one of your tooth problems, but felt too embarrassed to ask your dentist about it? Don't be so shy the next time.

We took five popular home remedies for tooth troubles and asked two leading dentists to tell us whether they would be helpful or hogwash.

"Most medications we have today came from plants and trees, so it stands to reason that many natural solutions are viable," says Dr. Eric Shapira, a dentist in Half Moon Bay, Calif., and spokesman for the Academy of General Dentistry. Score one for Mother Nature!

Clove Oil

Word of Mouth: This essential oil, obtained from clove plants, is purported to numb teeth and gums, relieving the pain of a toothache.

The Whole Tooth:

"Clove oil decreases the blood flow to the pulp of the tooth, making it feel numb," says Shapira. In fact, a study in the Journal of Dentistry compared clove oil, benzocaine (an over-the-counter anesthetic) and a placebo (medicine-free gel) in 73 volunteers. The placebo failed to numb the areas, but the benzocaine and the clove oil were equally effective. If you have a toothache because you lost a filling or chipped your tooth and can't get an appointment with your dentist right away, put a few drops of clove oil on a small piece of cotton and hold it over the area. Repeat every few hours until you can see the dentist.

Witch Hazel

Word of Mouth: An over-the-counter astringent made from the bark and leaves of this shrub will cure cold sores (aka fever blisters).

The Whole Tooth:

While witch hazel isn't a miracle cure, it does seem to help clear up cold sores. In one study noted in a World Health Organization report, 34 patients with a herpes labialis infection (a virus that causes these annoying sores) were treated with a witch hazel ointment or a placebo (a fake gel) for eight days. The size of the inflamed area was greatly reduced with the natural ointment compared to the placebo. Apply witch hazel at the first sign of a cold sore (be prepared for some stinging!) and use as directed.

Tea Bags

Word of Mouth: Placing a steeped tea bag on swollen gums for about five minutes several times a day will help battle gum disease.

The Whole Tooth:

"Tea bags contain tannins, plant compounds that can help reduce inflammation," says Shapira. But they're not a cure for gum disease -- merely a possible fix for one of its symptoms. If your gums are irritated, you need a good cleaning at your dentist's office. It will prevent your swollen gums from progressing to a more severe form of gum disease that may eventually cause you to lose teeth. That said, dentists recommend tea bags for another reason: "Tannins also help blood to clot," says Dr. Howard Gamble, a spokesman for the Academy of General Dentistry who is based in Sheffield, Ala. "For instance, if you had a wisdom tooth extracted and your mouth was bleeding at home, putting a wet tea bag on the area would help stop the blood flow."

Fresh Mint or Cardamom Seeds

Word of Mouth: Chewing on these foods will help banish bad breath.

The Whole Tooth:

You'll get fresher breath for sure, but the effect is fleeting. "Both mint and cardamom seeds are great at masking the odor," says Shapira. "In fact, the Indian restaurant I go to gives cardamom seeds on the way out." If the bad breath is coming from the food you ate, he says they're a good temporary cover-up. But if the source of bad breath is bacteria in the mouth from gum disease, a trip to the dentist for a cleaning and routinely brushing your tongue will knock out the odor.

Baking Soda

Word of Mouth: This common household item (and baking ingredient) will whiten stained teeth.

The Whole Tooth:

Brushing with a paste made from a teaspoon of baking soda and a few drops hydrogen peroxide will help reduce stains on the surface of your teeth, says Gamble. But if the stain has penetrated the tooth -- and that's often the case -- you're not going to see any improvement with baking soda. In that case, you'll want to talk to your dentist about other tooth-whitening options.

 

Photo: @iStockphoto.com/FotografiaBasica

Karen Cicero is a health and nutrition writer and editor with more than 15 years experience. She has written health articles for national publications such as Prevention, Shape, Health, Fitness, Self and Cooking Light. She has edited the dental column for Heart & Soul magazine and is the co-author of the book Kitchen Counter Cures.

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