Clove oil
Clove oil, whose main component is eugenol, numbs the surface of the gum briefly and is a traditional short-term toothache remedy, but the EU regulator found no clinical data for the oil itself and the one trial we found used a gel made from clove powder. The NHS does not mention clove oil and advises painkillers, a mouth gel and seeing a dentist if toothache lasts more than 2 days. Swallowed clove oil has caused liver failure in toddlers, and concentrated oil irritates the lining of the mouth.
At a glance
Last reviewed 30 September 2026What it's used for
Evidence is rated per use. The same ingredient can be strong for one thing and traditional for another.
| Use | Evidence | What the research shows |
|---|---|---|
| Toothache: temporary relief | Limited | The EU regulator's assessment says there are no clinical data for clove oil in toothache and accepts it only as a traditional short-term use for a dental cavity. A 2025 systematic review found three randomised trials of eugenol, the main component, in dental settings (dry socket after extraction, pulpotomy and pulpitis) that reduced pain against placebo or standard care, rated moderate certainty; these were treatments given by dentists, not home use of clove oil on a tooth. The pain returns because the cause is still there, and licensed UK clove products say the relief is only provisional and to seek dental care as soon as possible.1,4 |
| Numbing the gum surface before an injection (clove gel) | Limited | In 73 adult volunteers, a homemade gel made with clove (2 g of 40% clove powder in glycerine) lowered pain from a needle stick in the gum as much as 20% benzocaine gel, and both beat placebo (p = 0.005). It was a single trial in healthy adults with a needle stick rather than a sore tooth, and the gel was made from clove powder, not the essential oil.3,1 |
| Inflammation of the mouth and throat lining (mouthwash, traditional) | Traditional | The EU assessment lists mouthwashes corresponding to 1 to 5% clove essential oil for inflammation of the mouth and throat lining as a traditional use, citing the German Commission E. The same report found no clinical studies and decided not to write a monograph.1,2 |
How much
Ranges below are what studies used and what supplements commonly contain. They are not a recommendation for you. Start at the low end.
How people take it
Safety
Who should avoid
- Swallowing clove oil — 10 mL caused liver failure in a 15-month-old
- Young children — toddler poisonings reported; proposed child strengths are only 1–5%
- Undiluted oil on lips, cheeks or the lining of the mouth — irritant; keep it off the gums
- Allergy to clove oil or Peru balsam — contraindicated in the EU assessment
- Exposed tooth nerve — eugenol applied directly to exposed pulp caused necrosis
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding — EU assessment: no data, use not recommended
Known interactions
Questions people ask
Does clove oil work for toothache, and what does the NHS say?
Clove oil can numb the surface of the gum briefly, and eugenol has small dental trials behind it, but there are no clinical data for the oil on a sore tooth at home. The NHS toothache page does not mention clove oil: it suggests painkillers, a pain-relieving mouth gel from a pharmacy and, for pain lasting more than 2 days or with fever, swelling or a bad taste, seeing a dentist.
Is clove oil safe? What are the dangers?
Swallowed clove oil is the main danger: case reports describe children aged 3 months to 2 years developing liver failure or blood-clotting problems after about 8 to 10 mL, all recovering with hospital treatment. Concentrated oil irritates the lining of the mouth and skin, and one report describes long-lasting numbness after oil spilled on a woman's lip and cheek. Keep it away from the gums, use it only briefly and store it out of children's reach.
How do you make clove oil at home?
Home-made clove oil is usually whole cloves steeped in a carrier oil. That is not the same as the steam-distilled oil in licensed products, and we found no source for its strength, method or safety, so we give no recipe. The strength matters because concentrated eugenol irritates the mouth.
Is clove oil good for skin or hair?
We found no human trials of clove oil for skin or hair, so we cannot say it helps. The EU assessment describes clove oil as an irritant and allergen, and in patch tests 20% clove oil in petrolatum caused redness in 2 of 25 volunteers while 2% caused none. Anyone who reacts to Peru balsam may also react to clove.
Sources
- Regulator assessment report European Medicines Agency HMPC. Assessment report on Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merill et L.M. Perry, flos and Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merill et L.M. Perry, floris aetheroleum (EMA/HMPC/534946/2010). 2011.
- Regulator public statement European Medicines Agency HMPC. Public statement on Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merill et L.M. Perry, flos (EMA/HMPC/112102/2011). 2011.
- Randomised controlled trial Alqareer A, Alyahya A, Andersson L. The effect of clove and benzocaine versus placebo as topical anesthetics. J Dent. 2006.
- Systematic review Reddy MS, Ramachandra SS, Shetty SR, et al. Analgesic Efficacy of Phytotherapeutic Agents in Dental Pain Management: A Systematic Review. Int J Dent. 2025.
- Health service guidance NHS. Toothache. NHS website. Page reviewed 2026.
- Case report Janes SE, Price CS, Thomas D. Essential oil poisoning: N-acetylcysteine for eugenol-induced hepatic failure and analysis of a national database. Eur J Pediatr. 2005.
- Case report Brown SA, Biggerstaff J, Savidge GF. Disseminated intravascular coagulation and hepatocellular necrosis due to clove oil. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 1992.
Last reviewed 30 September 2026 · Next review March 2027 · How we rate evidence
Reader notes
Experiences and questions from readers, read by an editor before they appear. They are personal accounts, not evidence, and are not medical advice.