Chlorhexidine Gluconate

[susandennis]

hlee commented in my entry about the dentist and the prescription this morning wondering if it was for Chlorhexidine Gluconate and if so maybe I should not be so quick to drink that koolaide.

I googled and discovered a short but worrisome list of side effects including: "Change in taste, increase in plaque, staining of teeth, mouth, tooth fillings, dentures, or other appliances in the mouth."

I already have taste issues and I just spent $3,000 getting rid of plaque and why would I want to stain my teeth??!!!! So I called the office and talked to Nancy who was very kind and patient. I explained my concerns and told her that if, in fact, they had a really good reason for my taking this in spite of the side effects that they should let me know because sans compelling reason, I was opting out.

Devon called me this afternoon and assured me that it was very important that I use it for 2 weeks. She said that the side effects were from prolonged use. 2 weeks would not be a problem. She said she used it for 2 months last year after some extractions and had no problems or side effects at all.

She said that it was critical to healing and preventing infection. I pushed back on this. Why didn't we discuss this before? I was already healing fine, thank you. If I were going to get an infection, wouldn't I have already gotten it? In other words, a general WTF??? But, she clearly did not have the answers - she gave me the party line and I folded. I'll pick up the stuff tomorrow. It's not that expensive. I'll give it a try. If I don't like it, I'll quit using it.

But, the main lesson here is one that I totally forget since I so rarely deal with medical people. Thank goodness hlee left his comment and reminded to me QUESTION and RESEARCH! doh!

Devon also asked me if I was having issues with hot and cold and I totally had forgotten to worry about that because, thankfully, I am not at all! The hot - like coffee and soup - feels good and the cold is fine, too. I lucked out there!

Comments

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

If you are on antibiotics why do you need this stuff? I had to keep my "pockets" open from my surgery and the most I ever did was rinse with warm salt water.

I think you should go with your concerns and call someone else who can give you actual reasons why other than it'll help it heal better. Because not picking at it will also help it heal better. And not jabbing a knife in it will help it heal better. I would want something along the lines of it will kill all the bacteria blah blah blah. Then counter with then wtf am I taking antibiotics?

I dunno. Her case isn't all that compelling.

[susandennis]

No antibiotics. Turns out the dentist does not believe in preventative antibiotics which impressed me. It won't hurt to give this a try. If I don't like it, I'll stop. I can handle that. And... of course... all of the details will appear here! :)

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

Yay for details!

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you are doing great. I am with you, why would you need this stuff?

last 2 cents

[hlee.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the additional details. Till now I didn't fully understand why I was supposed to use the stuff.
I was given the rise after a broken molar was extracted. I may have already used it for a full two weeks before I read the package insert. That might explain why I got so little resistance when I balked over their wanting me to use it for an initial period of 12-16 weeks and undergo a 2nd scraping and cleaning after 3 months. I was under the impression that it was only supposed to tighten up my gums a bit.