Fact Check: Can a Paste of Natural Ingredients Fix Toothache and Tooth Decay in Two Days?

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Fact Check

The claim is False. There is no scientific evidence that a mix of mustard oil, salt, clove, and turmeric can fix tooth decay and toothache within two days. Tooth decay causes permanent damage and cannot be resolved with these natural ingredients.

What is a Tooth Cavity (Tooth Decay/Dental Caries)?

Tooth cavity, medically known as dental caries, is a common chronic disease. According to the widely accepted definition by Shafer, "tooth cavity (dental caries) is an irreversible microbial disease of the calcified tissues of the teeth, characterized by demineralization of the inorganic portion and destruction of the organic substance of the tooth, which often leads to cavitation." 

The main cause is acid-producing bacteria like Streptococcus mutans, which stick to the tooth surface and convert sugars into acid, gradually eroding and weakening the tooth structure. The formation of dental caries depends on four key factors: bacterial biofilm (plaque) on tooth surface, fermentable carbohydrates, tooth structure, and sufficient time for the process to occur.

Once cavities develop, they cannot be reversed and have no cure.

What is a toothache, and its causes?

Toothache, medically referred to as odontogenic pain, is pain that originates from the teeth or nearby structures such as the gums, oral soft tissues, jawbones, or supporting tissues around the teeth. It can appear in different forms and is most often caused by inflammation of the dental pulp resulting from tooth decay (dental caries). Other causes may include tooth sensitivity to cold, sweet, or physical triggers like infections or abscesses near the tooth; post-treatment discomfort (iatrogenic); teeth grinding (bruxism); or intense pain following procedures like root canal treatment.

How is toothache managed?

Managing toothache mainly involves relieving pain and ensuring the patient is referred to a dentist for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Pain is usually controlled with over-the-counter medications like NSAIDs. Antibiotics are prescribed only if there are clear signs of infection spreading locally or systemically. If the infection reaches the root canal system, the patient may need a root canal procedure or tooth extraction.

What are the heath benefits of mustard oil, salt, clove, and turmeric?

Mustard oil is commonly used in Indian households and is a regular part of cooking. It offers a healthy balance of fats, including monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), with saturated fats (SFA) present in safe amounts. Mustard oil is known for several health benefits, such as its antibacterial, antifungal, and antiallergic properties. It also helps protect the throat and eyes, regulates body temperature, supports the structure of red blood cell (RBC) membranes

Clove is a widely recognized spice known for its role in food preservation and traditional medicine. It contains phenolic compounds such as eugenol, eugenol acetate, and gallic acid, which are responsible for its diverse uses across medicine, cosmetics, food, and agriculture. Research indicates that clove exhibits more potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activity compared to many fruits, vegetables, and other spices.

Salt, or sodium chloride, consists of roughly 40% sodium and 60% chloride. It is widely used to enhance flavor, preserve food, and act as a stabilizer or binder. The body requires only a small amount of sodium, around 500 mg daily, to maintain proper nerve function, muscle activity, and fluid balance. Excessive sodium intake, however, is associated with high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and loss of calcium from bones.

Turmeric, or Haldi, comes from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa L. and is well known for its bright orange-yellow color and unique flavor, attributed mainly to its active compound curcumin. It exhibits strong anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer effects. In Ayurveda, turmeric has long been used to manage various respiratory issues such as asthma, allergies, and bronchial hyperreactivity, as well as liver disorders, poor appetite, rheumatism, diabetic wounds, cough, sinusitis, and nasal congestion.

Can a paste of mustard oil, salt, clove, and turmeric will get rid of toothache and decay in Two Days?

These natural household ingredients like mustard oil, salt, clove, and turmeric possesses several health benefits but there is no scientific evidence or medical consensus supporting the claim that applying this mixture can fix toothache or toothdecay within two days.

The invitro study was done to investigate the effect of clove essential oil published in the International Journal of Dentistry suggest that clove essential oil and its two lead molecule eugenol and eugenyl acetate may inhibit the decalcification and/ promote the remineralization of tooth structure in case of tooth decay. But study does not suggest that tooth decay will resolve and that too within 2 days.

Studies have explored the role of salt in toothache. One study conducted on the effectiveness of salt in reducing toothache or dental pain published in the International Research Journal of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences found that rinsing with a salt solution reduced toothache or dental pain. Here study research only demonstrated a decrease in pain intensity, not the complete elimination of toothache within two days.

Regarding the role of mustard oil in oral health, a study published in the journal Cureus concluded that mustard seed extract exhibits strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties against various oral microorganisms. But study does not mention mustard oil specifically or provide evidence supporting its effectiveness in eliminating tooth decay or toothache within two days.

Another review article mentioning the effect of turmeric on oral health published in the journal Bioinformation highlighted that massaging and rinsing with turmeric power helps in reduction of painful teeth and also decreases the microorganisms causing dental caries. The study here does not claim that turmeric can entirely eliminate tooth decay and toothache within 2 days.

The above studies highlight the individual roles of mustard oil, salt, clove, and turmeric in oral health; however, none provide evidence that combining these ingredients can eliminate toothache or tooth decay. Tooth decay involves the destruction of tooth structure, and no ingredient or medication currently available can reverse or repair this damage. Toothache or tooth pain, a common symptom of dental caries, can only be fully resolved when the underlying cause is properly treated by a dental professional. Furthermore, there is no consensus within the dental community supporting the claim that these natural ingredients can fix toothache or toothdecay within two days.

The Medical dialogues fact check team spoke with Dr Jesu K Joseph, MDS, Prosthodontist, Lecturer, Sanjay Rungta Group of Institutions, Bhilai, C.G, and he said "Mustard oil, salt, clove, and turmeric have certain antibacterial and soothing properties, but there is no scientific evidence that they can eliminate toothache or decay within two days. These ingredients might reduce discomfort briefly, but they don’t reverse decay or eliminate infection. Tooth decay is a progressive disease that needs professional cleaning and treatment by a dentist. Depending on home remedies instead of proper dental care can delay healing and lead to more severe pain or complications later."

To this Dr. Akash Kumar Swarnkar, Dr Swarnkar’s Dental clinic, Bhilai, Durg (C.G.), added "Using these kitchen ingtredient like mustard oil, salt, clove, and turmeric  might help calm toothache for a short time, but it cannot eliminate toothache or decay as no natural mix can remove tooth decay or pain within two days. Tooth pain often indicates an underlying issue such as infection or decay, which needs proper diagnosis to identify the exact cause."

Medical Dialogues Final Take

While mustard oil, salt, clove, and turmeric possess known antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties beneficial for oral health, there is no scientific evidence or clinical consensus supporting the claim that their combination can fix tooth decay and toothache within two days. Tooth decay causes irreversible structural damage to the tooth and requires professional dental treatment for proper management.

Hence the claim is False.