HOME REMEDIES
Clove oil is great to use for toothaches. You can make your own by mixing together equal amounts of whole cloves and vegetable oil and allowing it to sit for several weeks. Cinnamon oil can be made the same way.
Boil some cinnamon in a cup of water. Store it in a clean bottle in your bathroom. Use it as a mouthwash frequently. Parsley leaves are rich in chlorophyll, nature's own deodorizer. Chew some leaves regularly and your breath will remain fresh.
A German with a toothache will cook a dried fig in milk and apply it to the painful area.
One European toothache remedy is garlic. You can chew on a clove of garlic, or hold it against the tooth. The antibacterial properties of garlic are well known.
This well known folk remedy for bad breath is to chew on fresh mint leaves and stems. Mint contains menthol, which has a plesant aroma.
A simple home remedy for toothaches used for centuries by Europeans involves cloves. Bruised leaves of clove can be placed in the mouth on the effected tooth. This apparently works because a mild antiseptic is contained in the leaves. Oil of cloves, a strong antiseptic, can be used on a plug of cotton to pack a cavity until you can get to a dentist.
Bergamot oil is used in Italy in the treatment of a variety of ailments. Bergamot contains thymol, which has antiseptic action. It can be used as a mouthwash and to help cure mouth infections.
Goldenseal is a favorite North American Indian medicine. They use it to treat sore gums, canke sores, cold sores, and toothaches. To relieve pain from a canker sore, use a cotton swab to place the powder directly on the affected area. You can also gargle with goldenseal powder mixed with tincture of myrrh and water.
Chewing on cardamon seeds is said to cleanse and sweeten the breath. Cardamon oil works better but is more expensive and harder to find.
Chinese green tea may be nature's best anti-cavity mouthwash. The tea is apparently rich in fluoride, which protects against tooth decay.
Cloves have many medicinal qualities. Besides using them as a toothache cure, the Chinese chew on 1 or 2 cloves to get rid of bad breath.
For centuries, people in Africa, India, and nearby Muslim countries have fashioned toothbrushes from frayed twigs referred to as "chew sticks." The best chew sticks are made from twigs of the Salvadore Persica tree, which many tribes call the "toothbrush tree." Tests have shown that these sticks contain some natural antibiotics, fluoride, and other anti-cavity ingredients.
If you develop a cavity or toothache you might try using the inner bark of the papaya tree like they do in Fiji.
In Norway, farmers chew on solid whey to prevent cavities, to keep their teeth white, and to prevent gum disease. Whey is one of the dairy by-products of cheese. Norwegians also use whey in its liquid form as a gargle.
Iranians chew small red barberries as a breath sweetner. And many Arabs, American Indians, and Far Eastern Indians rub their teeth with sage leaves to cleanse them and give a sweet smell to the breath.
It is said that eating strawberries, red dates, or persimmons can help remove garlic breath.
The marigold was used by English country people as a remedy for toothache. The juice of it's petals mixed with vinegar was rubbed on gums and teeth to relieve pain.
The Swedes clean their teeth with fresh strawberry. The strawberry is cut in half, and each half is rubbed over the teeth and gums. Strawberries whiten teeth and remove plaque as well. To ease a toothache or mouth pain, the Chinese make a tea by boiling 5 grams of fresh peppermint in 1 cup water and adding a little salt. Peppermint is an antiseptic and contains menthol, which relieves pain when applied to skin.