This is not a medical site. Information on this page is provided on a
"best efforts" basis for interest only and does not constitute
personal advice.
It is essential that you discuss medical matters with your doctor.
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You probably won't find raw garlic in your dentist's surgery - but it has long had a place in lore for the home treatment of toothache.
The great
Hippocrates recommended garlic as a remedy for tooth ache, although to be honest he recommended garlic remedies
for almost everything!
How Is It Used?
Whilst some folklore talks of applying garlic externally it is unlikely that this would
provide any immediate relief. Most traditional uses of garlic to alleviate the pain of a toothache
suggest crushing it (to release the allicin) and placing it inside the mouth, right
next to the affected tooth. Sometimes
the garlic is used in conjunction with other herbal ingredients, most usually cloves or clove oil.
Remember that crushed garlic is very strong and can cause skin irritation - use with
caution.
Does It Work?
The effectiveness of garlic on toothache doesn't appear to have been studied extensively, so we only have
anecdotal accounts of its value. Certainly some sufferers are convinced that it can to help relieve the throbbing
pain of an aching tooth, at least in the short term.
The reason that garlic might be effective in relieving the pain of toothache is almost
certainly the allicin - a compound with a powerful antibiotic effect that is released when garlic is crushed.
It's possible that
this could help to slow down any bacteria or infection involved, however it is unlikely that garlic alone could
halt decay and stop further deterioration.
Garlic might provide some short term pain relief if you have a mild tooth ache, however it should
not be seen as a cure or as an alternative to expert dental treatment or traditional medicine. It's probably best
thought of as a short term palliative.
Always consult a qualified professional concerning medical matters.
This is not a medical site. Information on this page is provided on a
"best efforts" basis for interest only and does not constitute
personal advice.
Always discuss medical matters with your doctor.
Please read the site terms of use.
|
