Orajel and Pain Relief
Orajel is the trade name for a family of products manufactured by Church & Dwight Co., Inc. Orajel products are created for children and adults to help relieve oral pain. According to Orajel.com, the chemicals contained in Orajel products are flavored and safe if they happen to be swallowed.
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What Is Orajel?
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Orajel is the brand name for the drug benzocaine topical, a pain reducer that has a numbing effect that works on contact. Drugs.com explains that benzocaine topical is a local anesthetic that inhibits nerve pain.
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Oral Pain
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Orajel is commonly used to relieve teething pain in infants and young children. Teeth that erupt during teething often cause the gums of a child to become sore and inflamed. According to PeaceHealth.org, Orajel applied to the gums can dull the nerve pain that is causing the discomfort. Orajel also has a product line exclusively for adult, oral use and should not be used on children due to higher amounts of benzocaine topical. The adult Orajel products are recommended to be used for gum pain, tooth pain, and painful ulcerations on the skin of the mouth.
Other Uses
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Orajel does have other uses that are not associated with oral pain. EMedicineHealth.com explains that Orajel products are also used in the medical field to help relieve the pain that may be associated with certain medical procedures. For example, Orajel may be applied to a speculum during a vaginal or rectal procedure. It is also used as a topical treatment of hemorrhoids and ingrown toenails.
Sore Throat
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The Orajel family of products also includes a product that is specially designed to numb the pain associated with sore throat. The product is administered through a dissolvable strip that contains pectin, which, according to the International Pectin Producers Association, is considered safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The pectin in Orajel sore throat products coats the throat and relieves pain and irritation.
Warnings
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Although Orajel products are convenient and work well to relieve pain on contact, there are certain health concerns that should not be overlooked when using the product. A condition known as methemoglobinemia has been associated with benzocaine use. Dr. Alan Greene, M.D., FAAP reports that the development of methemoglobinemia is a rare occurrence that can be potentially life-threatening. The condition is known to impair oxygen flow to the body, resulting in the child turning blue. Therefore, it is imperative that all children be monitored closely after Orajel is administered. It is important to note that methemoglobinemia is more prevalent in children than it is in adults. In fact, cases of benzocaine-acquired methemoglobinemia in adults is quite rare.
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Resources
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