oil of cloves for toothache (slightly boaty)

[Benbow]

This talk of teeth reminds me. I have carried oil of cloves for toothache in every first aid kit I have ever had for more years than I care to think of. But I never used it.

Recently however, I found myself with severe toothache and no prospect of help for several days /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. So I thought, 'I know I will apply some oil of cloves'. The instant I applied a drop, via a cotton bud, it created excruciating pain which took hours to subside/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

Almost every list of recommended 1st-aid kit contents includes this evil stuff. I now assume it is all a sick joke. Or did I have the 'wrong kind' of toothache or the wrong kind of oil of cloves ? Anyone ever tried it ?

(I certainly apprecite the provision of a toothache smiley)

 

[tcm]

hm. Well, i most certainly have used oil of cloves. You only need a bit, mind. Have you mixed up the bottles with summink else?

 

[Das_Boot]

Carry some injectable novocain plus syringe needle etc the problem with toothache is not so much the initial pain. That is easely relieved alcohol above 40% will relieve it by swilling it around in the mouth untill the pain eases then swallowing it, but getting rid of the cause of the pain when you are 2 weeks away from help is the best thing. A good dental kit that will allow you to temorarily fill the tooth is essential also something that will allow you to extract the tooth if all else fails. Most pain is caused by preasure caused by swelling so antibiotics help more than anything in the long term apart of course from a dentist. Cloves are crap.

 

[claymore]

There used to be something called toothache tincture which was administered by my Mother. I think that was oil of cloves - seemed to work from what I remember

 

[benjenbav]

Well it worked for Dustin Hoffman in Marathon Man so it must work. IS IT SAFE?

 

[Neraida]

I think it works for some and not for others. Didn't do anything for me last year when I tried it and it tastes orrible, only made matters worse and got me a ticking off from my dentist.

 

[Becky]

I suppose that this is one thread where I do know what I am talking about!
Anyway, there are basically three types of tooth problems:
1) A tooth breaks without the presence of decay. This can be sensitive to temperature and touching and needs a temporary dressing, available from Boots, and should be in your emergency kit.
2) A tooth fractures with decay; in other words it breaks due to loss of internal srtucture from the decay. This could then have an inflamed pulp (nerve, as you would know it) which could respond to clove oil if it was painful. It would very likely be sensitive to pressure on the soft inside, and would need treatment, a filling. This problem can be checked for by a dental examination and radiographs prior to going sailing.
3) A dental abscess. The symptom you wouldbecome aware of is swelling of yourgum or face. This can be insidious, developing from a tooth that has become 'dead' at some indeterminate time in the past. Treatment is relief of pressure by drilling out the decay and letting the infection drain away. This drilling is very often completely painless- after all the tooth itself is dead. Then a root filling.
Or it can develop from a gum infection, where the tooth becomes raised in its socket and is excrutiatingly painful, and in extreme situations you find that sometimes you cannot fully close your mouth. Simple initial treatment of antibiotics to clear up the infection, followed by some form of gum treatment.

Best thing is to have through dental examinations with radiographs on a regular basis. Prevention is the best thing.
There are other problems, but the above covers most dental emergencies.

Here endeth the lesson according to Becky

 

[TrueBlue]

In my experience (that is for me), most toothache has been due to gum disease (on visiting my friendly dentist I have been sent away with an antibiotic or the dreaded Cordosyl gel).

I find that the gel and saline and Oraldene mouthwashes in rotation have provided a cure, but then I do have an annual checkup and visit his hygienist as well

 

[pragmatist]

I'm sure prevention is better than cure but what do you recommend if you break a tooth despite that ? Even if we're only UK cruising I hate to visit anyone other than my own dentist and would like to find suitable temporary solutions. Recommendations ?

And have had considerable relief from oil of cloves, apply to finger and rub onto gum only.

Over to you Becky !

 

[tcm]

supplemental dentist questions for becky

what is in the pink water?

will my teeth really drop out within 10 years if the miserable git dentist doesn't do loads and loads of dental work?

Are all female dentists really a lot nicer than male insofar as they don't winge and whine about tooth decay etc? I mean, if i cleaned my teeth all the time they'd have no job would they?

What size drill bit would you recommend for onboard diy with a multispeed drill? I reckon 1mm at low to medium speed, without the hammer thing on.

 

[Becky]

This often isn't as much of a problem as people think. If your tooth breaks and it doesn't hurt, then avoid it while away, and see your dentist as soon as pos when you return. Teeth are composed of an inert hard layer (enamel) over a living layer (dentine). Enamel has loads of cracks in its surface, getting more in number as one's years advance.This isn't a prob, unless the tooth begins to become sensitive. This could mean that a segment of enamel is flexing under pressure. If this bit breaks off, almost always the sensitivity will go. Just be careful, avoid it as much as pos, and seek help when possible. This isn't a particular emergency. The 'nerve' inside the dentine has 2 main functions;-
1) creating new dental tissue to protect the pulp inside
2)to switch off the jaw muscles which are strong enough to break your teeth otherwise.
So with slow decay, the tooth will create new dentine to protect itself. With large fillings, the same often happens. So a fracture in this situation isn't too bad.
If on the other hand you bite suddenly on a stone, pip or something similar, you could fracture a bit off your tooth. This is where the muscles aren't switched off in time. Protect the bare area with anything you can; chewing gum can work,even a bit of bread held over the site helps. Avoid hot and cold extremes, and don't bite on it. A dressing from Boots or other chemists will be a great help. Just mixand apply as instructions.
Oil of cloves 'numbs' the live pulp (nerve) inside the tooth, (and will eventually kill it, not just from topical applications), but it does work. On the other hand it won't affect an abscess, because the pulp is already dead.
Hope this is some help

 

[Becky]

Re: supplemental dentist questions for becky

Pink water, its anti septic

Only if you don't look after them. It would be gum disease that allowsthem to loosen, easily treated in the early stages

2 questions. Yes women dentists are a lot nicer, but most men dentists are very nice. Just find one you like. Diet is very important. Anything that doesn't make you fat is also not bad for your teeth. But almost everyone needs regular scaling

DIY drilling isn't much use because you haven't any filling material, have you? So what would you fill the holes with? Anyway, the holes are already there, we only drill to expose the decay so that it can be more easily removed.

Can't think why I am trying to give serious replies to these questions

 

[Porthandbuoy]

[ QUOTE ]
The instant I applied a drop, via a cotton bud, it created excruciating pain which took hours to subside/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]

But when it wears off, and the pain is back to normal, you feel sooooo much better.

 

[tome]

Re: supplemental dentist questions for becky

Actually Becky, I find your replies fascinating so please don't stop!

 

[tcm]

Re: supplemental dentist questions for becky

only the last one was a stupid question, sorry. Thanks for useful answers.

 

[tugboat]

I have always had my regular 6 month check-ups (smug b.....d) but have occasionally had problems in between. Some years ago while at sea, just starting a rigshift so couldn't even leave the bridge let alone the ship, a toothache started. Knew it was gonna drive me nuts and be an unacceptable distraction so applied some clove oil on a piece of cotton wool. The taste is disgusting, but it soothed the pain and the taste took my mind off the residual pain. New application every couple of hours or so. It did the trick for several days till we got back to the beach. Ever since then I have kept some at home and in the boat first aid kit. It's reassuring knowing it's there.