A toothache is almost always a symptom of something that needs treatment — decay, a cracked tooth, an infection, or gum disease. The herbs and spices in this guide can make the wait for your appointment more comfortable, and a few have real research behind them. But none of them treat the cause. Relief that lasts more than a day or two without seeing a dentist is not a realistic expectation for any home remedy.
Seek urgent dental care — not a home remedy — if the pain comes with facial swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or a bad taste that suggests drainage. Those are signs of a spreading infection, and infections of the head and neck can become serious quickly.
With that said, here are 14 herbs, spices, and pantry staples people use for temporary toothache relief, with the best-supported options first.
Cinnamon shows mild antimicrobial activity in laboratory studies, which is likely where its reputation for tooth pain comes from. A traditional comfort measure is a paste of ground cinnamon and honey held against the sore tooth; it will not treat the problem, but it is harmless for most adults and some people find it soothing.
One caution: cinnamon oil is concentrated and can irritate the soft tissues of the mouth, so stick to small amounts of the powdered spice. And despite some claims, there is no good evidence that cinnamon strengthens teeth or jaws.
Clove is the home remedy with the strongest real-world track record. Its active compound, eugenol, is a natural anesthetic and antiseptic that dentistry itself uses — eugenol-based materials appear in temporary fillings and in the dressings placed over dry sockets after extractions. That is why clove oil genuinely numbs instead of just feeling like it does.
To use it safely, put one or two drops of clove oil on a cotton ball and hold it against the sore tooth for a few minutes, diluting it first with a little carrier oil if it stings. Do not swallow clove oil and keep it away from young children. The relief is real but temporary — a numbed tooth is still a tooth that needs a dentist.
Coriander seeds boiled in water and used as a gargle are a traditional remedy for mouth sores in several cultures. Clinical evidence is limited, but the rinse itself is gentle and safe for most adults, and warm gargles of any kind tend to soothe irritated tissue.
Think of it as a comfort measure while you wait for your appointment, not a treatment for an infection.
Goldenseal contains berberine, a compound with demonstrated antimicrobial activity in laboratory settings, and it has a long history in North American herbal tradition as a mouth rinse for sore gums. What it does not have is clinical evidence showing it treats dental pain or dental infections in people.
Important caution: goldenseal interacts with a long list of prescription medications and should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you take any regular medication, ask your physician or pharmacist before using it.
Green tea is one of the better-studied items on this list. Its catechins — natural antioxidant compounds — have been shown in small clinical studies to reduce oral bacteria and plaque acidity, and regular consumption has been associated in observational research with healthier gums. An unsweetened cup or two a day is a reasonable habit for oral and general health.
What green tea will not do is whiten teeth, dissolve existing plaque, or treat a cavity. Enjoy it as a supportive habit, and keep expectations realistic.
Compounds isolated from licorice root have shown antibacterial activity against cavity- and gum-disease-related bacteria in laboratory research, which keeps it on the radar of oral-health researchers. Human studies so far are small and preliminary, mostly using licorice extracts in lollipops or mouth rinses.
Be careful with whole licorice root if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, or kidney problems: regular use can raise blood pressure and lower potassium. Occasional use as a tea is fine for most healthy adults.
Myrrh has been used as a mouth rinse since antiquity, and it appears as an ingredient in some modern herbal mouthwashes, where small studies suggest a modest benefit for gum inflammation. A few drops of myrrh tincture in warm water, swished and spat out, is the traditional preparation.
It is a reasonable short-term rinse, but it is not a substitute for treating the gum disease or decay behind the pain.
In India, neem twigs have been used as chewing sticks for centuries, and modern research has taken the tradition seriously: several small clinical trials found neem-based mouth rinses reduced plaque and gingivitis comparably to standard rinses over a few weeks of use.
Neem products vary widely in quality and concentration. If you try one, choose a preparation made for oral use, and treat it as a hygiene aid rather than a pain treatment.
Nutmeg contains compounds related to eugenol, the same anesthetic found in clove, which explains its folk reputation for tooth pain. That said, there is no clinical evidence that nutmeg relieves toothache, and the amounts used in cooking are far too small to matter either way.
Feel free to keep it in the kitchen — it belongs there. For actual numbing, clove oil a few entries back is the better-documented option.
If you try only one thing on this list, make it a warm saltwater rinse. It is the most widely recommended first-aid measure for dental pain: it helps flush out food debris, temporarily reduces bacteria, and can calm inflamed gum tissue. Dental professionals routinely recommend it after extractions and for sore gums in general.
Dissolve half a teaspoon of table salt in a glass of warm water, swish for about 30 seconds, and spit. You can repeat it several times a day. It costs almost nothing, it is safe for most adults and older children, and it will not interfere with any later treatment.
Thyme earns its place on this list through thymol, its main active compound — the same antiseptic used in well-known commercial mouthwashes. A strong thyme tea, cooled and used as a rinse, is a traditional way to get some of that effect at home.
As with everything here, it reduces bacteria temporarily; it does not repair a damaged tooth.
The prickly ash tree — nicknamed the toothache tree — was a classic remedy in Native American and early American folk medicine; chewing its bark produces a numbing, saliva-stimulating sensation that made it popular for dental pain. The tradition is genuine, but clinical research is essentially absent, so it belongs in the interesting-but-unproven category.
Turmeric’s active compound, curcumin, has documented anti-inflammatory properties, and small clinical trials of turmeric gels and mouthwashes have shown benefit for gum inflammation and mouth ulcers. A paste of turmeric with a little water applied to a sore gum is a traditional home use.
Two practical notes: turmeric stains everything it touches, including some dental materials, and its anti-inflammatory effect does not extend to fixing decay. Use it for comfort, then let a dentist find the cause.
White oak bark is rich in tannins, astringent compounds that temporarily tighten irritated gum tissue — the basis of its traditional use as a mouth rinse for sore or bleeding gums. Human clinical evidence is lacking, so treat it as a folk remedy rather than a proven one.
That closes the list. If you have read this far with a tooth that still hurts, the real answer is a diagnosis. At Trust Dental Care, an exam with X-rays identifies the cause before it becomes an emergency — and if it already feels like one, our emergency dental team can help. Contact our English-speaking coordinators to schedule your visit.
Get a personalized quote with no obligation. Our bilingual team will be happy to assist you.