Does Tea Tree Oil Work for Toothache?
No solid, irrefutable evidence exists stating that tea tree oil helps to relive the pain of a toothache. There are many anecdotal stories of people who claim that tea tree oil helps relieve toothache, but these should not be taken seriously.
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Considerations
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According to the University of Western Australia, tea tree oil does contain antibacterial properties. This is why it can be found in diluted amounts in products like toothpaste, dental floss and mouthwash.
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Uses
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The Mayo Clinic reports that tea tree oil products can help in some cases of bad breath and gingivitis. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to painful periodontal disease.
Identification
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Although many species are lumped together as "tea trees," medicinal tea tree oil is from Melaleuca alternifolia. However, no oil derived from any tea tree species is thought to ease toothache pain.
Misconception
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Clove oil (sometimes called euganol) can help ease the pain of a toothache because it has a numbing effect. Tea tree oil is not the same as clove oil.
Warning
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The Mayo Clinic warns that one should never place undiluted tea tree oil directly on the skin or in the mouth. This can cause the skin to become irritated, inflamed and sore.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit "Tooth-Brush" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: get directly down under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
