Using Clove Oil to Relieve Teething Pain in Babies – Is It Safe?

Parents try from the simplest to the most difficult remedies to bring comfort to their children, and using clove oil for babies for teething pain is one of them. Yes, many parents rely on this teething pain home remedy, but it is actually one of the unknown disasters for children. Clove oil is a renowned essential oil known for its antimicrobial, antiseptic, and potent anaesthetic properties that help keep teeth healthy and bacteria-free. However, like every other essential oil, clove oil is an ultra-concentrated product that comes with a set of precautions and safety guidelines requiring it to be used in specific ways and amounts. If you have a young child and plan to use clove oil for baby teething, whether they are under 6 months or over 2 years old, it is essential that you understand the proper use and potential side effects. If you have any doubts about using clove oil for teething pain in your baby, consulting a paediatrician or a dentist is the best way to proceed.

Is it Safe to Use Clove Oil for Teething Pain in Babies?

Clove oil is not the best remedy for teething pain in babies because it can cause chemical burns on the child’s gums if the dilution is miscalculated.

Clove oil is a known dermal irritant (1). It is not to be ingested, and when applied on the inside on the gums, there is a chance that it can be ingested. Since the teething pain is prominent in children around 6 to 9 months old, it is unsafe for teething pain in general. Repeated use of clove oil in the mouth and on the gums can cause side effects, making it unsafe for children.

Are There Any Side Effects of Using Clove Oil for Teething?

Clove oil, known for its anaesthetic properties,  is one of the best home remedies for relieving teething pain and discomfort. But it’s not the ideal remedy for teething pain in babies. Clove oil should not be ingested, and if you apply it to your baby’s gums, there are chances that they will ingest it.  Hence, it’s best not used for little ones. Furthermore, most babies usually experience teething pain between 6 and 9 months of age; thus, it is not safe for teething pain in general.

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A 1991 case report describes a 7-month-old infant who experienced central nervous system depression, urinary issues, and significant anion-gap acidosis following the accidental ingestion of clove oil (2).

Several near fatal reports of excess clove oil ingestion, including coma, fits, and acute liver damage, presented in children when clove oil was used to ease teething pains (3). Moreover, accidental overdose of eugenol could cause severe acute liver and kidney injury in children (4).

How Is Clove Oil Safely Used for Teething Pain in Babies

Various brands of toothpaste available today contain clove oil in them. You can buy any good toothpaste that is safe for babies.

What If You Have Already Used Clove Oil for Your Child Below 2 Years of Age for Teething Pain?

Clove oil is good for health and general well-being, but it should not be ingested by babies, especially those under two years of age because of its strong properties. However, if you have already used this oil on your baby’s gums who is below two years of age, then you should check with a doctor if your baby seems unwell or if you notice something unusual. Clove oil can cause irritation, blisters, redness and other such problems in babies who are less than two years of age, so it’s best not to use it.

Alternate Remedies for Teething Pain

Instead of clove oil, you can give frozen banana slices, a blunt frozen spoon, and harmless teething toys to your baby and let him chew on them. You may also keep a soft washcloth inside the freezer and let your baby chew on it. You can also massage your baby’s gums with a washcloth. These simple remedies should help provide him relief from teething pain.

FAQs

1. Is it safe to use clove oil for baby’s gum?

Using diluted clove oil to relieve teething symptoms is acceptable. However, the truth is that improper dilution can lead to chemical burns on your child’s gums. Thus, it is unsafe to use to use clove oil for teething in general.

2. Which foods you should not offer to a teething baby?

Citrus foods like oranges and lemons, spicy foods, salty foods, and frozen items can irritate a teething child’s gums, and should be avoided (5).

Clove oil is not the best remedy out there for teething pain. So don’t use clove oil when your baby starts teething. Check with your baby’s paediatrician what you can do about it; he/she will guide you the best!

Also Read:

Reasons for Late Teething in Babies
Effective Baby Teething Remedies
Symptoms of Teething in Babies
Ways to Get a Teething Baby to Sleep

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Sources References

1. NAHA – Factors that influence the safety of essential oils include

2. PubMed – Clove oil ingestion in an infant

3. BMJ Journals – Near fatal ingestion of oil of cloves.

4. NIH – Eugenol (Clove Oil)

5. Alameda Pediatrics Dentistry & Orthodontics – FOODS TO AVOID OFFERING AN INFANT WHO IS TEETHING