In a commentary this week on Morning Edition, Frank Deford said the proof is in the pudding.. A listener wrote in to say that keeping proof in a pudding would be messy. The original proverb is: The proof of the pudding is in the eating. And what it meant was that you had to try out food to know whether it was good.
For the normal pain that is associated with tooth extraction, you can simply take over-the-counter painkillers such as Ibuprofen. This should help in any slight or normal pain after tooth extraction. Keep monitoring any pain or discomfort and if you are ever worried about it, contact your dentist immediately.
Cloves can also be used as part of a topical pain reliever. A study indicated that cloves could be used to treat fungal infections but further research is needed. The active ingredient is eugenol, which is a natural pain reliever and is also used in some over-the-counter pain rubs. Rubbing a tiny amount of clove oil on your gums may temporarily ease toothache pain until you can get to a dentist.