Target toothache with Orajel

1377TM_0412_Orajel_FP_v8_LN_Promo 11/04/2012 09:45 Page 11
promotion
Target toothache
®
with Orajel
For customers seeking temporary relief from the
pain of toothache, Orajel is the ideal solution
A troublesome pain
When toothache strikes, it is often
the only thing on a person’s mind.
While there may not always be
external symptoms, the internal pain
can range from throbbing to intense.
cannot usually feel them
because they are covered
by a protective coating
comprised of hard tissues
called dentine and
enamel. In fact, the top
layer of tooth enamel is
harder than bone.
Sometimes, however,
the dental pulp becomes
exposed (e.g. a dental
cavity, when a tooth is
broken or a filling falls out)
and this enables us to feel
the sensitivity of the nerves.
This sensation is usually quite
painful. The dental pulp may
also become infected, which
can lead to inflammation as
well as pain.
The pain of toothache may
be felt in just one tooth, or it
may radiate out towards the
jaw or head. Depending on the
precise cause and their personal
perception of pain, a customer may
describe their toothache as mild or
severe. They may also describe the
following typical symptoms:
• Increased pain when chewing
• Sensitivity to hot or cold food
• Swelling around the tooth
• Swelling of the jaw.
What causes the pain?
Why is it so painful?
Inside every tooth is a soft, delicate
tissue called dental pulp, which
contains nerves and blood vessels.
Even though the nerves inside the
dental pulp are highly sensitive, we
The precise cause of a customer’s
toothache is best diagnosed by a
dentist. However, in broad terms,
toothache usually occurs for one of
the following reasons:
• Dental decay (caries) – which
causes cavities (holes) in the
enamel and dentine
• A broken or cracked tooth
• Problems with certain types of
dental treatment – such as a filling
that has become loose or broken
• Receding gums – where the gums
shrink back, leaving softer, more
sensitive parts of the tooth root
unprotected and exposed
• Infection within the dental pulp.
Some other conditions can cause
pain similar to toothache even
though the dental pulp is not
actually affected. These include:
• An abscess inside the gum
• Wisdom teeth coming through –
which can cause sore or swollen
gums.
needs, with both variants delivering
targeted pain relief where and when
you need it most.
Orajel contains benzocaine, a
powerful local anaesthetic that works
by temporarily blocking the pathway
of pain signals along the nerves and
by numbing the affected area.
Orajel Dental Gel contains 10%
benzocaine and can be
recommended by all members of the
pharmacy team. Orajel Extra
Strength contains 20% benzocaine
and should be sold only under the
supervision of a pharmacist.
Important
information
Pain relieving
products, including
Orajel Dental Gel and
Orajel Extra Strength,
Benzocaine 10% w/w should not be used
continuously to treat
toothache. They are
useful for managing
symptoms only and
will not treat the root
cause of the pain.
Customers with
Benzocaine 20% w/w toothache should be
advised to visit a
dentist as soon as possible because
How can I help?
without treatment their pain is likely
While you cannot treat the cause of
to become worse. If toothache is not
a customer’s toothache in the
treated, the pulp inside the tooth
pharmacy, there are products that
may become infected and this
can be recommended to temporarily
usually leads to a dental abscess,
ease the pain until they are able to
which can cause severe and
see a dentist for treatment.
continuous pain.
Since toothache is a local pain,
local pain relievers can be very
effective. Orajel is the UK’s bestselling toothache pain relief gel.*
It is a topical gel that comes in two
strengths to suit different customer
* Excludes mouth gel
www.orajel.co.uk
ORAJEL® DENTAL GEL BENZOCAINE 10% W/W & ORAJEL® EXTRA STRENGTH BENZOCAINE 20% W/W PRODUCT INFORMATION: Indications: For temporary relief of toothache pain associated with
presence of open carious lesions and direct exposure of a vital dental pulp. Dosage: Adults and children aged 12 years and over. For topical oral use. Use up to 4 times daily. Do not use continuously. If
toothache persists, consult your dentist. Method of use: Remove cap. Cut off tip of tube on score mark. With a clean finger or swab apply an amount of gel the size of a green pea into the tooth cavity.
Contraindications: Known sensitivity to benzocaine or any of the other ingredients. Not to be used in those individuals suspected of lacking the normal ability to convert methaemoglobin to haemoglobin. Do
not use if you have a family history of methaemoglobinaemia. Not for use in children below the age of 12 years. Precautions: Orajel® is intended for short-term use until a dentist can be consulted. Do not
exceed recommended dose. The product contains sorbic acid which may cause local skin reactions, e.g. contact dermatitis. Avoid drinking hot liquids whilst using Orajel®. Interactions: Benzocaine, like other
derivatives of para-aminobenzoic acid, inhibits the actions of sulphonamides and therefore should not be used concomitantly with any sulphonamide. Pregnancy and lactation: There is inadequate evidence of
safety of benzocaine in human pregnancy, but it has been in wide use for many years without apparent ill consequences. No clinical data are available on the use of this product during pregnancy and lactation.
Undesirable effects: Application of benzocaine on skin and mucous membranes has resulted in hypersensitivity reactions (burning, stinging, pruritis, erythema, rash and edema), contact dermatitis and
methaemoglobinaemia in a few cases in infants, children and adults. If symptoms persist, or are severe, or are accompanied by fever, headache, breathlessness, nausea or vomiting, consult a doctor.
Overdose: Excessive absorption of benzocaine may produce methaemoglobinaemia in infants, children, and adults. The first clinical signs are cyanotic (greyish) skin discolouration (most notably on mucous
membranes) and signs of unusual breathing or breathlessness. Methaemoglobinaemia may be treated by the intravenous administration of 1% methylene blue. Treatment of overdose should be symptomatic
and supportive. RRP (ex VAT): Orajel® Dental Gel £4.59; Orajel® Extra Strength £5.10. Legal category: Orajel® Dental Gel GSL; Orajel® Extra Strength P. PL holder: Church & Dwight UK Ltd., Premier House,
Shearway Business Park, Pent Road, Folkestone, Kent, UK, CT19 4RJ. PL numbers: Orajel® Dental Gel 00203/0227; Orajel® Extra Strength 00203/0228. Date of last revision: March 2011. Orajel® is a
trademark of Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
THE MAGAZINE FOR PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANTS
TM APRIL 2012
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