Clove oil is a beast, right? I remember trying it once and my whole mouth went numb except the tooth that actually hurt—go figure.
I totally get what you mean about clove oil. The first time I tried it, I was so desperate I just dabbed it on with a cotton swab... but then I panicked because everything tasted like Christmas potpourri and my tongue felt weirdly tingly. And yeah, the pain in the tooth itself? Still there, just less noticeable because everything else was numb. Not exactly the relief I was hoping for.
I’ve also done the gum trick—chewing up a piece and sticking it over the sharp edge. But with my luck, it got stuck in my retainer and I spent half an hour fishing it out with a toothpick. Next time, I just folded up a bit of wax paper (the stuff they give you for braces) and that worked better for me.
Ice packs are hit or miss for me too. Sometimes the cold helps distract from the pain, but mostly it just leaves my cheek feeling frozen and puffy. I always worry about making things worse by doing something wrong, so now I just stick to rinsing with warm salt water and counting down until my appointment. Dental emergencies are honestly the worst for anxiety...
Clove oil really is wild—like, chemically, it’s supposed to numb the area, but I swear, it just makes my whole mouth feel like it’s been marinated in holiday spices. That “Christmas potpourri” taste is no joke. I tried it once when I had a cracked molar and ended up with a numb tongue and a burning sensation everywhere except the actual tooth. It’s almost like the pain just hides behind a wall of clove-flavored confusion.
I hear you on the gum trick. I actually tried using a bit of bread once, just to cover a jagged edge until I could get to the dentist. Not my finest moment—pretty sure I swallowed half of it in my sleep. Wax paper is genius though, especially if you’ve got braces or a retainer. I wish I’d thought of that before I started improvising with random pantry items.
Ice packs, for me, are mostly just an excuse to lie on the couch and watch trashy TV while pretending I’m “treating” my tooth. Sometimes it helps, sometimes I just end up with a frozen cheek and zero improvement. Warm salt water rinses seem to be the only thing that doesn’t backfire. At least with that, I don’t have to worry about accidentally numbing my entire face or getting gum stuck in my dental work.
The anxiety is the worst part, honestly. I always convince myself it’s going to turn into some dental apocalypse before the appointment. The last time, I ended up calling the dentist’s emergency line at 3am because I was convinced my tooth was about to self-destruct. Spoiler: it didn’t. But the stress is real.
Anyway, I’m pretty much in the “count down the minutes till the dentist” camp now too. Temporary hacks are fine, but nothing beats actually getting it fixed.
Clove oil is such a weird experience, right? I tried it for the first time last week (cracked a tooth on popcorn, classic) and honestly, I thought I was prepping for a gingerbread house instead of helping my tooth. Didn’t do much for the pain, but my mouth smelled festive. I’m with you—salt water rinses are way less dramatic. The anxiety though… every twinge feels like a countdown to disaster. Glad I’m not the only one who spirals a bit before seeing the dentist.
Clove oil is such a trip, right? The first time I tried it, I was convinced I’d accidentally ordered some kind of holiday baking kit instead of a toothache remedy. My tongue went numb, my lips tingled, but the tooth pain just kind of… laughed at me. It’s like the pain knew clove oil was all bark and no bite.
I totally get the anxiety spiral too. Every time my tooth twinges, I’m convinced it’s plotting something dramatic—like, “will today be the day it splits in half in public?” Salt water rinses are my go-to as well, although I have to admit I sometimes overdo it and end up feeling like a human pretzel.
Have you ever tried the whole “chew on the other side and pray” routine? That’s been my main strategy while waiting for an appointment. Also, ice packs on the cheek help a bit—plus, you get to look like you’re reenacting a cartoon toothache. Not exactly dignified, but hey, desperate times…
Clove oil is such a weird experience, right? I remember trying it and thinking, “Is this supposed to burn this much?” The numbness was real, but the pain just kind of shrugged it off. I totally relate to the “chew on the other side and hope for the best” strategy—sometimes I feel like I’m developing superhuman jaw muscles on one side. Have you noticed if hot or cold foods make it worse? For me, anything even slightly cold was brutal until I got it fixed.
