Clove oil is most commonly used as a short-term remedy for tooth pain, but it also has applications in skin care, aromatherapy, and household cleaning. The key to using it safely is proper dilution: undiluted clove oil can burn skin and mucous membranes, and swallowing even small amounts can be dangerous. Here’s how to use it correctly for each purpose.
For Toothache Relief
The most popular use for clove oil is numbing a sore tooth. Its active compound works as a mild local anesthetic and has antibacterial properties, which is why it’s been a go-to home remedy for dental pain for centuries. It won’t fix the underlying problem, but it can take the edge off while you wait for a dental appointment.
To apply it safely:
- Mix a few drops of clove oil with one teaspoon of a carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil. Never apply it undiluted inside your mouth.
- Dip a cotton ball or cotton swab into the mixture.
- Gently swipe the swab around the painful area, or place the cotton ball directly over it.
- Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. You should start to feel a warming, numbing sensation.
- Reapply every 2 to 3 hours as needed.
Avoid swallowing the oil. If you notice burning or irritation in your gums or the soft tissue of your mouth, rinse with water and reduce the amount of clove oil in your mixture.
Safe Dilution for Skin
Clove oil should never go directly on your skin. It’s a potent irritant that can cause redness, burning, and even chemical burns at full strength. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy recommends a 2.5 percent dilution for normal skin, which works out to about 15 drops of clove oil per ounce of carrier oil. If you have sensitive skin, cut that to a 0.5 to 1 percent solution, roughly 3 to 6 drops per ounce.
Good carrier oils include jojoba, sweet almond, coconut, and grapeseed oil. Before applying your mixture to a larger area, do a patch test: dab a small amount on the inside of your forearm, cover it with a bandage, and wait 24 hours. If you see redness, itching, or swelling, that dilution is too strong for you.
People typically use diluted clove oil on the skin for minor muscle aches, insect bites, or small blemishes. Apply it to the specific area rather than spreading it broadly, and wash your hands after use to avoid accidentally touching your eyes.
Using Clove Oil in a Diffuser
Diffusing clove oil can fill a room with a warm, spicy scent. Because clove oil is classified as an irritant due to its high eugenol content, you’ll want to follow a few precautions. Run your diffuser in 30-minute intervals with breaks in between rather than continuously. Keep the room well ventilated by cracking a window or leaving a door open.
Pets are especially sensitive to essential oils. Cats in particular lack certain liver enzymes needed to process compounds like eugenol, so always make sure animals can leave the room freely when you’re diffusing. If you notice coughing, wheezing, or watery eyes in yourself or anyone nearby, turn the diffuser off and air out the space. Start with fewer drops (3 to 5 in a standard water-based diffuser) and increase only if the scent is too faint.
Why You Should Avoid Swallowing It
The FDA recognizes clove bud oil as a flavoring agent in food, which means trace amounts used in cooking and baking are considered safe. But drinking clove essential oil, even in small quantities, is a different matter entirely. As little as 10 milliliters (about two teaspoons) can cause serious harm in adults, and much smaller amounts can be dangerous for children.
Symptoms of clove oil ingestion include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, and rapid heartbeat. In more severe cases, particularly in children, it has caused seizures, coma, and acute liver failure. There is no established safe dose for drinking clove oil as a supplement, and the toxicity data in humans is mostly drawn from poisoning cases rather than controlled studies. The bottom line: use it topically or aromatically, not internally.
Keep It Away From Young Children
Clove oil is not safe for babies or toddlers. Most medical professionals recommend against putting any essential oil, even diluted, inside a baby’s mouth or on their skin. Clove bud oil specifically should not be used on children under the age of 2. Their smaller body size means even a tiny amount carries a higher risk of toxicity, and their skin absorbs compounds more readily than adult skin does.
If your child is teething, safer alternatives include chilled (not frozen) teething rings or gently rubbing their gums with a clean finger. Store clove oil in a childproof container and out of reach, since accidental ingestion is one of the most common causes of essential oil poisoning in kids.
Interactions With Blood Thinners
Eugenol, the primary active compound in clove oil, inhibits platelet activity, meaning it can slow blood clotting. If you take anticoagulants like warfarin, aspirin, or other blood-thinning medications, regular use of clove oil (particularly if you’re applying it in your mouth where it can be absorbed) could theoretically increase your bleeding risk. No bleeding complications from this combination have been formally reported, but the mechanism is well understood.
If you use blood thinners and want to try clove oil for a toothache, keep your use brief and watch for unusual signs like prolonged bleeding from cuts, increased bruising, bleeding gums, or blood in your urine. Let your doctor or dentist know you’ve been using it.
Storage and Shelf Life
Clove oil keeps best in a dark glass bottle stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Heat and light break down eugenol over time, reducing the oil’s effectiveness and potentially creating skin-irritating byproducts. Most clove essential oils stay potent for 2 to 3 years when stored properly. If the oil smells off, looks cloudy, or has thickened noticeably, replace it.