The clove tree is native to Indonesia, and has been used since the 13th century for toothaches and joint pains. The active ingredient in cloves is eugenol, which has been heavily studied in dentistry. Eugenol has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. It is a natural anesthetic found to be as effective as benzocaine gels in lowering pain. 

You can make a clove mouthwash in four different ways, depending on how strong you want your rinse.

Using whole cloves

• Boil one cup of water
• Place in a heat resistant container
• Place 3 Tbsp of whole cloves and steep until solution is cool

Using crushed cloves

• Place 2 Tbsp of whole cloves in a mortar and pestle
• Pound until coarse
• Boil one cup of water
• Place in a heat resistant container
• Allow ground cloves to steep for 10 min
• Allow solution to cool, strain through a sieve and discard the solids

Using clove powder

• Add 1 Tbsp of ground cloves in 1 cup of warm water

• Mix well before use

Using clove oil

• Add 3-5 drops of clove oil to 1-2 Tbsp of a carrier oil such as coconut oil or olive oil
• Hold the oil in your mouth for 10-15 minutes and spit
• This process is called oil pulling, which is an ancient practice of using oil to help "pull" impurities and bacteria from your mouth and body. Oil pulling can decrease harmful bacteria that produce acid as well as stimulate saliva flow which helps reduce oral acidity and may also reduce inflammation.

• Some people find it hard to swish 2 tablespoons of oil. If this is difficult for you, reduce the volume to 1 tablespoon.

You can add 1 tsp of baking soda to alkalinize and 1-2 tsp of honey to sweeten and soothe. You can also experiment with adding crushed rosemary leaves, mint leaves, or peppermint leaves. These herbs have antibacterial properties.

Final Thoughts

Having a canker sore doesn't mean you have to suffer through the pain. There are many ways to relieve your pain and hasten healing. Cloves are readily available and can be used in many different ways.

Sandie Tran, Pharm.D.