Naeltjie-olie is clove oil — the Afrikaans name for the essential oil distilled from clove buds. It is the classic South African home remedy for toothache, dabbed on a painful tooth for numbing relief. It works, it is genuinely useful for a night before a dental appointment, and it is more dangerous swallowed than most people realise.
What is Naeltjie Olie?
Naeltjie-olie is the essential oil of the clove, Syzygium aromaticum — “naeltjie” being the Afrikaans for clove.
No product under this name appears on the South African Medicine Price Registry. Searching returns only matches on the letters “olie” inside unrelated names — glucose infusions and a paracetamol tablet. Disregard those. Clove oil is sold as an essential oil or traditional remedy, not a registered medicine.
The active constituent is eugenol, which makes up roughly 70 to 90 per cent of clove oil. Eugenol has two properties that matter here, and both are genuine:
It is a local anaesthetic. Eugenol blocks nerve signalling in the tissue it touches, numbing pain within minutes. This effect is real and well documented — eugenol has been used in dentistry for well over a century, and zinc oxide-eugenol cement is still a standard temporary dental filling material.
It is also antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
So the traditional use has a sound basis, which cannot be said of every home remedy — clinical comparisons have found clove gel comparable to benzocaine for the pain of a needle insertion in the gum.
What it does not do is treat the cause. Toothache almost always means decay reaching the nerve, an abscess, a cracked tooth or gum disease. Clove oil numbs the nerve; it does not repair the tooth or clear the infection. The pain returns when it wears off, and the problem underneath continues.
Clove oil is considerably more concentrated than whole cloves. A drop of oil carries the eugenol of many cloves — which is why the whole spice is a kitchen ingredient and the oil requires care. See also the cloves guide.
What is Naeltjie Olie commonly used for?
- Toothache — its best-known use, applied on a cotton bud to the painful tooth or cavity.
- After a tooth extraction, traditionally, though it should not be packed into a fresh socket without dental advice.
- Mouth ulcers and sore gums, dabbed on sparingly.
- Teething, traditionally — but see the caution below, because this use is not safe.
- Temporary fillings, where dentists use zinc oxide-eugenol cement.
- Muscle and joint aches, diluted in a carrier oil, and as a heavily diluted mouthwash.
How it is used for toothache: a drop or two on a cotton bud or a small piece of cotton wool, applied to the tooth itself. Keep it off the gum, tongue and cheek as far as possible — undiluted clove oil burns soft tissue and can cause ulceration and, with repeated use, tissue damage.
Diluting it in a little olive or coconut oil reduces that risk considerably and barely affects the numbing.
It is a bridge to a dentist, not a treatment. Getting through a night or a weekend is exactly what it is good for.
How Naeltjie Olie fits into this medicine category
It is a traditional remedy rather than a registered medicine:
| Type | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional remedies | Naeltjie-olie (clove oil) | Supplement or essential oil; light regulation |
| Dental gels | Benzocaine, lidocaine gels | Registered; numbing |
| Painkillers | Paracetamol, ibuprofen | The mainstay for dental pain |
| Antibiotics | Amoxicillin, metronidazole | For dental infection, with dental treatment |
| Dental materials | Zinc oxide-eugenol cement | Professional temporary filling |
Two points worth stating plainly. Ibuprofen does more for toothache than clove oil — dental pain is inflammatory, and ibuprofen with paracetamol is the most effective combination available without a prescription. And antibiotics alone do not fix a dental abscess: an abscess needs drainage or the tooth needs treating.
See the general medicines hub, and guides such as HP553 and K-Fenak OTC.
What to check before using Naeltjie Olie
The most important caution: do not swallow clove oil, and keep it away from children.
Clove oil is genuinely toxic when swallowed. Reported cases of serious liver injury, seizures and coma in small children have followed the ingestion of quantities as small as a teaspoon or two. This is not a theoretical hazard — it is well documented, and the small bottles look harmless.
Do not use it for teething. Regulators including the US FDA have warned against benzocaine and clove-type oral products in infants, and clove oil in particular carries a real risk of soft tissue burns and, if swallowed, systemic toxicity. A chilled teething ring and paediatric paracetamol are the safe options.
Also take care if you:
- Take warfarin or another blood thinner. Eugenol affects platelets and may increase bleeding.
- Have a bleeding disorder, or are due for surgery or a dental extraction — stop it beforehand.
- Have liver disease.
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding. Concentrated clove oil is best avoided; the spice in food is fine.
- Have sensitive skin or contact allergy — eugenol is a recognised sensitiser — or diabetes, where clove oil may affect blood sugar.
Practical points:
- Use it externally and in the mouth only — never swallow it.
- Dilute it in a carrier oil, for skin and for repeated dental use.
- Apply it to the tooth, not the gum, on a cotton bud.
- Use it sparingly, for a day or two, not repeatedly over weeks.
- Store it out of reach of children, ideally with a child-resistant cap.
- Do a patch test before using it on skin.
Possible cautions and when to ask a pharmacist or doctor
Common problems are local: burning, stinging, redness, ulceration of the gum or cheek, and numbness of the tongue if it spreads.
Get emergency help immediately for:
- Any child who has swallowed clove oil, even a small amount, and even if they seem completely well. Take the bottle. Liver injury and seizures can follow, and early treatment matters.
- An adult who has swallowed a significant amount.
- Swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing.
- Facial swelling with toothache, difficulty swallowing or opening the mouth, or swelling spreading to the eye or under the jaw. A spreading dental infection is a medical emergency — infection from a lower tooth can compromise the airway, and this kills people. Do not wait.
- Fever with dental pain.
Seek prompt advice for:
- Ulceration or a burn where it has been applied.
- A rash or itching.
- Increased bleeding, particularly on warfarin.
See a dentist rather than continuing to self-treat if:
- Toothache lasts more than a day or two.
- Pain wakes you at night, or is triggered by hot or cold and lingers afterwards — that suggests the nerve is involved.
- There is swelling, a bad taste, or discharge.
- A tooth is loose, cracked or broken.
- Gums bleed regularly.
Clove oil is a good way to get through the night. It is not a way to avoid the dentist — and a tooth that could have been filled becomes a tooth that must be extracted, given enough postponement. Public dental clinics treat pain and infection, and going early is both cheaper and less painful than going late.
Related medicine guides
Frequently asked questions
What is naeltjie-olie used for? Toothache, mainly — it is clove oil, and its eugenol content numbs dental pain within minutes. Also for mouth ulcers, sore gums, and diluted for muscle aches.
Does it actually work for toothache? Yes. Eugenol is a genuine local anaesthetic and has been used in dentistry for over a century. But it numbs the nerve without treating the decay, abscess or crack causing the pain.
How do I use it? A drop or two on a cotton bud applied to the tooth, keeping it off the gum and tongue. Diluting it in a little olive or coconut oil reduces the risk of burning soft tissue.
Can I use it for a teething baby? No. Clove oil can burn a baby’s mouth and is toxic if swallowed. Use a chilled teething ring and paediatric paracetamol.
Is it dangerous? Swallowed, yes — seriously so. Reported cases of liver injury, seizures and coma in small children have followed as little as a teaspoon or two. Keep it out of reach.
Is ibuprofen better? For toothache, generally yes. Dental pain is inflammatory, and ibuprofen with paracetamol addresses the mechanism rather than numbing the surface.
Can I use it with warfarin? Ask first. Eugenol affects platelets and may increase bleeding risk.
How long can I use it? A day or two, to bridge to a dental appointment. Repeated use over weeks damages soft tissue and leaves the real problem untreated.