Tupelo, MS Dentist- Dr. John Kenney's "Your Dental Health" Segment - Benzocaine

Speaker 1: Your Dental Health, brought to you by Tupelo Smiles Family and Cosmetic Dentist.

John Kenney: Benzocaine is a local anesthetic that is used to relief pain, it can be found in most drug stores, usually under the product names Anbesol, Hurricaine, Orajel, Baby Orajel, and Orabase. Benzocaine has been associated with a rare but serious, and sometimes fatal condition, called Methemoglobinemia, a disorder in which the amount of oxygen carried through the bloodstream is greatly reduced. Because of the association, the Food and Drug Administration recommends that parents and caregivers not use Benzocaine products for children younger than two, except under the advice of a healthcare professional. Symptoms of Methemoglobinemia can occur minutes to hours after ingestion, and include shortness of breath, pale, gray, or blue colored skin, lips, and nail beds. Headache, confusion, or rapid heart rate. If you suspect your child is suffering from Methemoglobinemia, take your child to the emergency room immediately. For your dental health, I'm Dr. John Kenney.

Speaker 1: For more information on this topic, or to make an appointment, call Tupelo Smiles at 662-840-1535.