For some people, going to the dentist can be a bit nerve-wracking at the best of times. When you have allergies, it’s really important to let your dentist and their staff know upfront. Whether you have an allergy to medication, latex or a food allergy, your dentist needs to know to make sure your dental treatment is safe for you. Find out more about visiting the dentist with allergies and why it’s important to keep your dental practice up to date with all of your allergies, including any changes.
Potential allergens at the dentist
The number of potential allergy causing products used by dentists might come as a surprise. Dental surgeries have a lot of specialised equipment, personal protective equipment and products for treating your teeth. Some of these can be a problem for people with different types of allergies.
Latex allergies
Like other medical settings, there are quite a few places that latex can show up at the dentist. Your dentist might use:
- latex gloves;
- protective eye glasses for you to wear, which might have rubber latex across the nose piece;
- dental dam (also called rubber dam). This is a thin sheet of latex rubber, polyurethane or silicone used to isolate one tooth from the rest of the mouth during dental procedures, such as a filling;
- a nasal mask for nitrous oxide/oxygen (“laughing gas”), which could be made of natural rubber latex or silicone;
- local anaesthetic syringes that can contain latex;
- rubber polishing cups to polish teeth after a clean;
- rubber handled toothbrushes or interdental picks;
- and various other items
Latex allergies can also be an issue with some speciality dental equipment used for procedures like root canal fillings. Your dentist can use safe latex free alternatives if they know about your allergy.
Medication allergies
If you have a dental infection, there’s a good change that you may be prescribed antibiotics. Or if you have a procedure, you might be prescribed other medication like anti-inflammatories or pain relief. Just like when you go to the doctor or a hospital, it’s so important to let your dentist know of any medication or drug allergies.
Food allergies
You’re not planning to eat at the dentist, so why worry about food allergies? Surprisingly some dental products do contain food ingredients.
One product in particular is a creme applied to the teeth that is used to mineralise the enamel surface. GC Tooth Mousse Plus (R) is a popular product. It’s commonly used for children, people with braces, patients with acid reflux or people who have trouble cleaning their teeth well due to physical impairments. This product is derived from milk protein, and it is not suitable for people with cows milk allergy. There is very clear labelling on the box that the product contains milk, but we always remind our dentist at appointments not to use this due to milk allergy.
Toothpastes may also contain food allergens. In Australia, popular large brand toothpastes are unlikely to contain top 10 food allergens. However, some people may be allergic to ingredients used to flavour toothpaste such as spearmint, cinnamon or menthol. Some toothpastes may contain gluten as a binder or thickener. It’s also possible to develop contact allergies to toothpaste ingredients, such as flavourings or parabens. Similarly, mouth washes and even dental floss can contain flavourings.
If you are sensitive to any flavours, fragrances or preservatives, you should let your dentist know. And if you have any concerns about ingredients, ask your dentist. For products you use at home, you can also contact the manufacturer with any questions.
Reactions to adhesive and tapes
As with other healthcare settlings, it’s quite possible you will come into contact with adhesive tapes or bandages at the dentist. For example, some dentists offer an intravenous or ‘twilight’ sedation, and may use tape to secure the line in place. Let your dentist know to use hypoallergenic options.
Practical ways to minimise allergic reactions at the dentist
Having worked in a dental practice for 6 years, and now managing family visits to the dentist with medication and food allergies as well as adhesive reactions, here are some of the things we do to ensure our dental visits are allergy safe.
Notify your dentist when you make the appointment
It’s a really good idea, and also a matter of courtesy, to advise the practice of any allergies when you first make your dental appointment. This gives the dentist time to prepare for your appointment, including ordering in any specific products that might be needed.
For example, many dentists only use latex free gloves and equipment, but some may not. Giving notice means they can ensure latex free gloves and other products are available to use for your treatment. They may also schedule your appointment in the morning to reduce your exposure to latex in the surgery.
Complete your medical history forms accurately
When visiting a new dentist for the first time, it’s usual practice to complete a form with your personal details and medical history. You might be asked to complete this online before your appointment, or to come in early to do it on the day. Make sure you note all of your allergies, including any food allergies.
Update your records when your allergies change
In our experience, it’s common to fill out a medical form for the first appointment with a new dentist, but it’s not often that we are asked to update it. If you have developed a new allergy to anything between appointments, make sure the staff know so they can update your records.
Remind your dentist at your appointment
We have a three step check for food ingredient labels: first check at the shop, second check when we put away and third check when we use. It doesn’t hurt to take a similar approach to notifying of allergies when you visit the dentist: first when you make the appointment, second when you fill in the medical form, and thirdly when you actually sit in the chair with your dentist. If you need to have any procedures done or your dentist recommends any products to use, don’t be afraid to ask questions about your allergens.
Take your allergy medications with you
If you have been prescribed an epinephrine autoinjector like EpiPen or Anapen, you should be carrying two with you at all times anyway. Make sure you also take your allergy medications with you to your dental appointment so you have them on hand in the unfortunate event that you do have an allergic reaction. The dentist I worked for had EpiPens in the surgery for emergency use, but please don’t rely on that being the case at your dentist.
Take care with dental procedures in hospital
If your dentist is planning to do any dental work under general anaesthetic in hospital, you will need to not only tell your dentist about your allergies, but also make sure the anaesthetist and the hospital are also fully informed about your allergies when you do your admission paperwork.
Even severe at the dentist can be managed if you work with your health care provider as a team. So don’t let concerns about allergies stop you from seeing your dentist regularly and taking good care of your teeth.
References and more information
If you have a latex allergy, make sure to read our guide to other products that can contain latex. And for food allergies, discover more surprising personal care and medical items that can contain food ingredients.
For more information about visiting the dentist with allergies and anaphylaxis, please see the following resources from the leading dental and allergy organisations in Australia we’ve referred to in writing this post:
- Australian Dental Association website Teeth.org.au article, Anaphylaxis and Dental Care
- Australian Dental Association Factsheet, Milk Allergies and Dental Care
- ASCIA, Guidelines to Promote Safe Practice in the Dental Environment for Latex Allergic Patients
And for more practical tips for managing all types of allergies, don’t forget to subscribe.
*Disclaimer: Allergy Spot does not provide medical advice. You should always consult a suitably qualified medical practitioner in respect of your own medical conditions, symptoms or concerns. See our Website Terms for more details.
