Dentist

[NikkiLynn]

I haven't been to the dentist since I was diagnosed with Celiacs Disease a few months ago. I have an appt. to go in a couple of weeks and wanted to know if I should be worried about any of the products they use? Should I call the dentist before I go to make sure everything is safe?

[elye]

Hi, NikkiLynn,

I have two good friends who are dental hygienists, and they have both warned me that often surgical gloves that come into the offices are packaged with flour sprinkled between the stacks, I guess to keep them from sticking together. So if you're hyper-sensitive, you may want to ask your dentist about this.

[floridanative]

Oh my gosh!!! Here I was annoyed that my dentist office told me the only way they could safely clean my teeth now is to use baking soda. I'm sure they would never have thought of the gloves..... And honestly I am taking my own Aqua Fresh toothpaste in and asking them to use that instead of baking soda. Do I have to take my own gloves in too. And if so, what about gloves for the gyno exam??

[elye]

A GREAT question...I never took that logical step forward and considered all the other places besides our dentist's where we come in contact with surgical gloves. I have my check-up next week, and I'm sure gonna ask my GP about it. I'm SOOOOO tired of bringing all my own stuff places (food, toothpaste)...don't tell me I'm going to be bringing my own rubber gloves, too!

[floridanative]

I'm right there with you elye....you made me laugh! I did call the gyno this week and they make me call the manuf. of the lubricant they use. I'm thinking I'm the docs first Celiac patient - well that she knows of anyway .

The widely used brand of lubricant 'Surgilube" is indeed gluten free. If you want to call yoourself you can find the toll free number at www.fougera.com. They make a lot of medical products used by doctors.

[ravenwoodglass]

I haven't been to the dentist since I was diagnosed with Celiacs Disease a few months ago. I have an appt. to go in a couple of weeks and wanted to know if I should be worried about any of the products they use? Should I call the dentist before I go to make sure everything is safe?

Yes, Many of the products they use not just gloves and toothpaste have gluten issues. Let your dentist know now so they can check everything from the gloves to the numbing products to the filling and mold materials they use. Make sure they actually check, my last dentist just wrote celiac in my chart and poisoned me at every visit. I switched dentists and they checked everything, she was even reluctant to use a cotton ball without checking for contamination issues. I have always hated dentists but I love her. It may take some looking if you have to change but it is worth not to get sick.

[Guest cassidy]

My dentist called and checked on the paste for me. They put it in my file that it is gluten-free. I didn't have any problems at all.

[elye]

This still brings us back to the flour-in-the-glove-packaging issue. I think everyone is accustomed to always checking the INGREDIENTS of materials used, but not this weird issue of dusted flour for packaging purposes. What's our world coming to? I'm with ya, floridanative, you gotta laugh your way through all this, or else madness surely lies in wait...we have to scrupulously check ingredients on everything we injest, now must we scrupulously check the way everything we come in contact with is packaged?!! My two hygienist friends have been at it for a long time, and I trust their information...yeeeeessssshhh....