Cloves in Traditional Oral Care: History and Safety

Cloves are one of the oldest traded spices in the world, and many cultures have a long history of using them in traditional oral-care customs. In this short guide we will explore, where cloves come from, the compound that gives them their aroma, and what to know about clove safety. It is not a guide to treating tooth pain. Tooth pain is a sign of a dental problem, and a dentist is the right person to diagnose and treat it.

What Are Cloves?

Cloves are the dried, unopened flower buds of the clove tree, Syzygium aromaticum, a member of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). The tree is native to the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. Whole cloves have a warm, sweet and pungent flavor and are used in cooking around the world.

A Short History of the Clove

Cloves first grew only in the Moluccas of eastern Indonesia, once called the Spice Islands, but they traveled far. Archaeologists found cloves in Syria dating to about 1720 BCE, and a Han dynasty text from around 200 BCE describes ministers holding cloves in their mouths to sweeten their breath before speaking to the emperor. The Dutch controlled the clove trade in the 17th century until 1770, when the French smuggled out seedlings under Pierre Poivre. Today, Indonesia is the world’s largest clove producer, followed by Madagascar, Comoros, Tanzania and Sri Lanka.

Eugenol: The Compound Behind the Aroma

The main aromatic compound in cloves is eugenol. It gives cloves their warm, spicy scent and the slight tingling feel they leave on the tongue. Dentists also use eugenol in some professional dental materials, such as zinc oxide eugenol, which appears in certain temporary fillings and cements. That professional use is different from using cloves as a kitchen spice.

Cloves in Traditional Oral Care

Cloves appear in traditional oral-care customs in several parts of the world, including folk practices in Asia and Europe. These customs are part of the spice’s cultural history. Herb To Body sells whole cloves as a culinary spice, and they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition.

Whole Cloves vs Ground Cloves vs Clove Oil

	Whole Cloves	Ground Cloves	Clove Oil
What it is	Dried flower buds	Whole cloves milled into powder	Concentrated extract
Strength	Strong	Strong, releases flavor quickly	Very concentrated
Aroma over time	Keeps aroma longest	Loses aroma faster	Varies by product
Common use	Simmering, studding, infusing	Baking, spice blends, rubs	Not a kitchen substitute for cloves
Eaten in the dish?	Usually removed before serving	Yes, mixed into recipes	Do not swallow

Clove Safety Notes

Clove oil is a concentrated extract and is much stronger than whole cloves used in cooking. Do not swallow clove oil.
Keep clove oil out of reach of children. Children who have swallowed clove oil have suffered serious poisoning.
Clove oil applied repeatedly inside the mouth can irritate or damage the gums and the lining of the mouth.
If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication (especially blood thinners) or have a medical condition, talk to your healthcare provider before using clove products beyond normal food amounts.

Tooth Pain Needs a Dentist

Tooth pain can come from cavities, a cracked tooth, gum disease or an infection. These problems need professional care. Contact a dentist as soon as you can if you have tooth pain, and seek urgent care if you notice swelling of the face or jaw, fever, or trouble breathing or swallowing.

How to Use Whole Cloves in the Kitchen

Simmer whole cloves in mulled cider or spiced tea.
Add a few whole cloves to rice, stews and braises, then remove them before serving.
Stud a baked ham or an onion with whole cloves for a warm, aromatic flavor.
Grind cloves into spice blends such as garam masala or pumpkin spice.

Whole cloves keep their aroma longer than ground cloves. Store them in an airtight container away from heat, light and moisture.

Flavor Profile and Pairings

Cloves are strong in aroma and hot and pungent in taste, with a warm, sweet edge. They are one of the most powerful spices in the kitchen, so a few go a long way. Cloves pair well with:

Spices and flavorings: cinnamon, allspice, star anise, peppercorns and vanilla
Fruits: apple, orange and other citrus peel
Savory foods: baked ham, pork, onions, stews and rice dishes
Drinks: chai, mulled cider and spiced tea

Cloves in World Cuisines

China: one of the five spices in Chinese five-spice powder
India: a common part of garam masala and masala chai
Indonesia: used in savory dishes such as gulai and soto betawi, and in kue nastar, a pineapple-filled cookie
Middle East: found in Arab cookbooks as early as the 13th century, in poultry, lamb and sweets
Europe and North America: holiday foods such as wassail, mincemeat, gingerbread and baked ham, and spice blends such as pumpkin pie spice and speculaas spice

How to Choose Whole Cloves

Look for whole, unbroken cloves with the round bud head still attached.
Choose cloves with a strong, warm aroma. Cloves that smell faint have usually lost flavor.
Buy whole cloves and grind them as needed if you want the most aroma, since ground cloves lose aroma faster.

Cooking Tips

Start with fewer cloves than you think you need. Their flavor can easily take over a dish.
Tie whole cloves in cheesecloth or place them in a tea infuser so they are easy to remove before serving.
Toast whole cloves briefly in a dry pan before grinding to bring out their aroma.
Grind small batches at a time so the spice stays fresh.

Sources

Encyclopaedia Britannica: Clove
AramcoWorld: Spice Migrations: Cloves

F.A.Qs

Can cloves treat a toothache?

Cloves are a culinary spice and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition. If you have tooth pain, see a dentist.

What gives cloves their smell?

Eugenol, the main aromatic compound in cloves, gives them their warm, spicy scent.

Is clove oil the same as whole cloves?

No. Clove oil is a concentrated extract that is much stronger than whole cloves. It should not be swallowed and should be kept away from children.

Where do cloves come from?

Cloves are the dried flower buds of the clove tree, which is native to the Maluku Islands of Indonesia.

Can you eat whole cloves?

Whole cloves are very hard, so most recipes remove them before serving. Ground cloves are eaten in the dish.

How long do whole cloves last?

Whole cloves keep their aroma longer than ground cloves when stored in an airtight container away from heat, light and moisture. If they have little smell, they have lost flavor.