Chlorhexidine (Dental)

Brand Names : Peridex, PerioGard, Oro-Clense

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of using the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your dentist or medical doctor will make. For chlorhexidine, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your dentist or medical doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or to skin disinfectants containing chlorhexidine. Also tell your dentist or medical health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Chlorhexidine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, chlorhexidine has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether chlorhexidine passes into the breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their dentist or medical doctor.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of this medicine in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of this medicine in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your dentist or medical doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your dentist or health care professional if you are using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine that is to be used in the mouth.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of chlorhexidine. Make sure you tell your dentist or medical doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Front-tooth fillings (especially those having rough surfaces) - Chlorhexidine may cause staining that, in some cases, may be impossible to remove and may require replacement of the filling

• Gum problems (other) - Use of chlorhexidine may make other gum problems, such as periodontitis, worse