Nature's medicine

Numb toothache

The causes of toothache can be anything from gum disease to dental cavities. Of course, you know that you need to pay a visit to the dentist to treat the cause, but in the meantime you can ease any discomfort by rubbing a little ground clove or clove oil around the tooth and gum, advises Trudy Norris. "Clove is a plant that your grandmother probably used for toothache because it contains eugenol, a natural painkiller and is antibacterial," she says.

You can keep breath fresh and cleanse bacteria in the mouth naturally by infusing a handful of common thyme in boiling water, and use this cooled as a mouthwash.