<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> It seems like I'm always learning something the hard way. I've largely ignored all the posts about Gf dental products. I guess because I've never noticed a reaction after a dental cleaning before. But after reading the many responses I received, I'm convinced that I got "glutinated" by the paste the hygeinist used to clean my teeth last week. I was sick for several days; I had nausea & a belly ache, was so tired I could hardly move and mostly slept for 48 hours. This is a pretty typical gluten reaction for me. After receiving the many thoughful responses summarized below, I called my dentist. She said she uses only non powdered gloves, plain unflavored dental floss & will use plain pumice to clean my teeth with in the future. [My comments in brackets.]Valerie in Tacoma [I may appear that some of the information below is contradictory, but remember that there are multiple manufacturers for dental products and we have to check each product prior to use if we want to avoid gluten. You think I would have done that. DUH!] ------------------ I did about 3 years ago, but it wasn't too long after I'd been diagnosed, so was still trying to figure out what was safe to eat and what wasn't. It easily could have been from something else. I haven't had a gluten reaction after dentist visits since. In fact, your post reminded me to look at the clock since I went to the dentist today and was a little worried. But it's been a touch over 6 hours since I left the office and I generally always react at the 5.5 hour point (yeah, it's about that exact). So I guess I'm safe again this time. Lily --------------- I'm not quite sure what you mean by "dental products", but I've never had a gluten reaction after a dental appointment. I was diagnosed with CD 7 years ago. When I first told my dentist, I was shocked to learn he was knowledgeable about CD. The hygenists only use pumice (?spelling) for my cleanings to avoid any possible gluten in the normal flavored cleaning pastes. Hope this is of some help to you. Barb MA --------------- yep, we've all reacted but to the cleaning stuff. usually no problems with the real dental stuff --------------- Yes. I have had a slight gluten reaction after a dental visit. I read an aricle in "Living Without" afterward and it said there could be oat powder on the non-latex gloves (I guess they're vinyl). There could also be some additives in the flavored polishing product. I always inform my dental workers to wash their gloves thoroughly before doing any work on me. For awhile, they were also just using a fine pumice to polish. Now they have found one flavored variety that is supposedly gluten free. They said they checked, I did not get sick. Sometimes I bring in my own toothpaste, also. All the best! -Eileen ---------------- I have DH and have to be very careful of dental visits. I use Colgate plain toothpaste, which is GF. The dentist is aware of my reactions and when the hygienist cleans my teeth, she uses only ground up pumice. I understand GLIDE floss is GF, so that's what I use. Terry in Illinois --------------- So far, we have had no reactions but the marshmellow flavored polish that my dentist has does contain gluten--the rest are ok. --------------- I believe I had a gluten reaction after my first (and so far only) visit to the dentist since going gf. The hygenist was pretty knowledgeable and careful and we read all ingredient lists together, but she pulled off her powdered gloves to change to unpowdered ones right in front of my face and the dentist did the same thing. I have since discovered that airborne wheat flour (as in a Wild Oats Market with their open bakery) bothers me more than eating something cross-contaminated. I intend to call the office before my next visit to remind them to check their products. I have a hospital quality face mask in my purse now, and I'll ask while still in the waiting room for them both to change their gloves before entering my cubicle, but of course the powder (and I don't really know whether it contains wheat or not) is all over their clothes, hair, floor, tables etc. Just my thought about a possible cause of my pretty severe gluten reaction that night. Hopes this helps inform. Mary ------------- I've been postponing a second visit to my dentist for this exact reason! I had minor work done this Spring, and it was horrible. He was so very slow (probably because of my health issues), but that wasn't the horrible part. I started feeling lousy 15 minutes before the dentist was done...I was there about 2 hours. I felt so queasy and weird. Not 10 minutes on the highway I pulled over and was so sick! It took me 2-3 days to feel normal again. I've NEVER had this happen before so I'm guessing gluten was the issue. I can't blame 1 product because he used several different things that morning. Maybe it was a combo of everything. -------------- I just had a crown put in and my Dentist's office called the manufacturers of everything they used. Found out that had to use vinyl gloves vs. latex, couldn't use the polishing paste or the numbing gel before the shot of Novocain. Not sure about anything else. ---------------- you may have missed this....the homeopathic remedy Veratrum Alb 30c, available in health food stores for $5 stops gluten reactions., My md recommended it...just take 2 pillsunder the tongue as needed. Usually just one dose is needed my md told me it was for gluten reactions....all of them. [not just diarrhea] At only $5 a clip, it's worth a try. Try a couple of doses..2 pills under the tongue every 2 hours.. Ann --------------- Yes, I used to always get sick after a cleaning, so I quit going. Luckily I rarely get cavities. I thought it was because they stirred up bacteria or something; I hadn't thought about gluten, though I had thought about latex in the tools. Marla [My dentist said that my reaction could have been from the cleaning itsself as Marla put it, "stirred up bacteria or something." My dentist said this cleaning was unusually difficult this time.] ---------------- I have an allergy to aspirin (acetyl-salicylic acid) and I frequently encounter Methyl Salicylate in dental and oral products. It makes my mouth and gums and face swell up. I have not had a GI reaction to anything I encountered in the dentist's office or in oral products. Susan, Ohio [I would guess that the exclusion products with methyl salicylate (mint flavoring) would also exclude any products that contain gluten as well.] ---------------- Yes I have, a year ago. Just this week I figured out why. It was due to the polishing agent. I was scared to have my teeth cleaned after that. Now, a year later, I had to face up. I wish I knew the brand, but the office called the manufacturer for me, and told me that the flavor they had used on me in the past was not GF. They did already have another flavor in stock by the same manufacturer that was GF- pina colada. They just never used it before. I did not have a reaction this time. Molly Santa Monica, CA --------------- Oh, yes. The last cap I had done, around Christmas last year-- my tongue swelled up horribly from the temporary cap used. The dentist used a new cap material to make it. At the time, I was still having occasional tongue swelling in connection with celiac issues, so at first I didn't think much about it. But after about a week, my tongue got so swollen, I had trouble talking. It was only that side with the cap. I called the dentist, and she got very worried, wanted to know if I felt my throat swelling. Well, duh, on me. I never realized that a swollen tongue was a sign of asphixiation. <g> She knew immediately that it was the cap material, so that told me that the dentist is well aware of allergies to dental products. As soon as the temp came off and the permanent ceramic went on, the swelling abated. CurtissAnn ---------------- Yes, my son has major reactions when he goes to the dentist - sick for several days afterward. We've not been back since he was finally diagnosed with CD last winter, so I'm not sure if he was reacting to something with gluten in it, or to the many unhealthy chemicals used in dentists' offices [he is chemically sensitive as well]. I always cringe when I see pregnant women working in dentists' offices... ________________________________________________________________ Get your name as your email address. Includes spam protection, 1GB storage, no ads and more Only $1.99/ month - visit http://www.mysite.com/name today! * All posts for product information must include the applicable country *