The collage in the photo is everywhere right now. A whole clove up close, a smiling person holding a jar of cloves, cloves on a tongue, clove tea, and bright white teeth. The implication is clear: cloves must be amazing for oral health and a white smile.
There is some truth here, and some big myths. Cloves have been used in traditional practices for centuries, especially for tooth discomfort. But they are not a whitening treatment, and they do not replace a dentist. Here is what cloves actually do, how to use them safely in the kitchen and for tea, and what you should know before putting them in your mouth like the photo shows.
What Are Cloves
Cloves are the dried flower buds of the clove tree, Syzygium aromaticum. They are a spice, used in baking, chai, mulled wine, and savory dishes worldwide. The strong aroma and numbing feel come from a compound called eugenol, which makes up 70 to 90 percent of clove essential oil.
That eugenol is why cloves have a long history in traditional dental care. It has local anesthetic and antibacterial properties. Dentists still use a purified form of eugenol in temporary fillings and dental cements today.
What Cloves Can and Cannot Do for Oral Health
What they can do:
1. Temporary relief for minor tooth discomfort: Chewing a whole clove releases eugenol, which can briefly numb a sore area. This is a traditional remedy and there is pharmacological basis for it. It is short-term comfort only, not a cure.
2. Breath freshening: Cloves have a strong, spicy aroma and antibacterial properties that can temporarily reduce oral bacteria and mask bad breath. People in many cultures chew a clove after meals for this reason.
3. Flavor for oral care products: You will see clove in natural toothpastes and mouthwashes for taste and its antibacterial properties.
What they cannot do:
1. Whiten teeth: Cloves do not bleach enamel or remove stains. The white smile in the photo is not from cloves. No spice whitens teeth. Whitening requires peroxide-based treatments that break down stains, or professional dental cleaning.
2. Cure cavities, gum disease, or infections: A clove cannot heal a cavity or fix an abscess. If you have tooth pain, swelling, or sensitivity that lasts, you need a dentist. Delaying care can lead to serious infections.
3. Replace brushing and flossing: No herb replaces mechanical cleaning.
If you have a toothache, swelling, fever, or a broken tooth, see a dentist right away. Do not rely on cloves to treat dental problems.
Safety Warnings for Using Cloves
This is important because the photo shows whole cloves directly on the tongue.
1. Never use undiluted clove essential oil in your mouth. Clove oil is very concentrated. Direct contact can cause burns to gums, tissue damage, and nerve damage. Even a drop can irritate. Dentists use a highly diluted, purified version in controlled amounts.
2. Whole cloves are strong. Chewing one or two whole cloves occasionally is generally safe for healthy adults. More than that can irritate your mouth, tongue, and stomach. Do not swallow large pieces, they are hard and fibrous.
3. Drug interactions: Eugenol can slow blood clotting. If you take blood thinners like warfarin, have a bleeding disorder, or have surgery scheduled, avoid medicinal amounts of cloves and talk to your doctor. Large amounts may also affect blood sugar, so people with diabetes should be cautious.
4. Children and pregnancy: Children should not chew whole cloves due to choking risk and irritation. Clove oil should never be given to children. If you are pregnant or nursing, use cloves only as a food seasoning. Medicinal amounts are not recommended without talking to your doctor.
5. Allergies: Some people are allergic to cloves. Stop if you get mouth irritation, rash, or swelling.
For any oral health concern, a dentist or doctor is your safest source of advice.
How to Use Cloves Safely
1. Clove Tea, like in the photo
This is the safest and most common way to use cloves beyond cooking.
Ingredients for 1 mug:
– 3 to 4 whole cloves
– 1 cup water
– Optional: 1 small slice fresh ginger, 1 teaspoon honey, slice of lemon
Instructions: Lightly crush the cloves with the side of a knife to help release oils. Bring water to a boil, add cloves, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Strain into a mug. Add honey if you want. Do not drink more than 1 to 2 cups a day regularly.
The tea in the photo has many cloves floating, which will be very strong and numbing. Start with 3 to 4 cloves per mug.
2. For temporary breath freshening
Place 1 whole clove in your mouth. Let it soften for 1 minute, then gently chew to release the oils. Hold it near the area you want to freshen for 5 to 10 minutes, then spit it out. Do not swallow. Do this occasionally, not daily.
3. In cooking and baking
This is the best use for cloves. Ground cloves go into pumpkin pie, gingerbread, spice cakes, and garam masala. Whole cloves flavor chai, mulled cider, stews, and rice dishes. Remove whole cloves before serving, biting one is unpleasant.
How to Buy and Store Cloves
Buy whole cloves rather than ground if you can. Whole cloves hold their flavor for 2 to 3 years, while ground cloves go flat in about 6 months.
Good cloves are plump, reddish-brown, and release oil when you squeeze them with a fingernail. Store in an airtight jar away from heat and light.
Growing Clove at Home
The clove tree is tropical and does not grow outside in most climates. It needs constant warmth, humidity, and 10+ years to produce buds. For most people, buy the dried spice. The photo shows a jar of cloves, not a houseplant.
The Bottom Line
Cloves are a wonderful spice with a real, traditional role in minor oral discomfort because of eugenol. A cup of clove tea can be soothing and aromatic. Chewing a single clove can temporarily freshen breath.
But cloves do not whiten teeth, do not cure cavities, and do not replace dental care. The bright smile in the image is from dental hygiene and genetics, not from eating cloves.
Use cloves as a food and a spice first. For tooth pain or dental issues, see a dentist. For any medical use of herbs, talk to your doctor, especially if you take medication or have a health condition.