Chlorhexidine Gluconate staining tongue, permanently?!
Question: Chlorhexidine Gluconate staining tongue, permanently.?
Maybe a dumb question, but I have been rinsing with Chlorhexidine twice daily for two weeks now, during root canal and crown work. My tongue is stained a dark blue-gray color. I assume it will go away when I stop using the rinse, but the literature talks about the possibility of permanent staining of teeth, which hasn't happened. So, I'm a little concerned. thanks.Health Question & Answer
Answers:
It doesn't permanently stain teeth, but the stain would have to be polished off by the dentist or hygienist. It won't come off with toothbrushing alone. And your tongue will naturally shed the discoloured tissue anyway - no need to brush your tongue at all.
I don't quite understand why it is so important during RCTs - after all, he is using a rubber dam, isn't he.? And for crown work it would help keep your gums healthy, but you should be able to do this easily with brushing and flossing. Sounds like a bit of overkill.
Sure, there is no problem reducing it to once a day. Preferably do it at night after brushing.Health Question & Answer
I don't quite understand why it is so important during RCTs - after all, he is using a rubber dam, isn't he.? And for crown work it would help keep your gums healthy, but you should be able to do this easily with brushing and flossing. Sounds like a bit of overkill.
Sure, there is no problem reducing it to once a day. Preferably do it at night after brushing.Health Question & Answer
No, its not permanent, and NO I would not reduce the use to once a day. there is a very important reason your dentist prescribed it for you. Just get a tongue scraper from the drug store, (you should use one anyway daily to remove the plaque from your tongue, it helps keep your breath fresher). Your tongue hold 1/3 of the plaque in your mouth. And chances are, the stain is not actually on your tongue, its the plaque on your tongue.
Are you drinking coffee or smoking.? This will increase the stain. Limit your eating and drinking to 30 minutes after you swish.
When you swish at night do it before you go to bed (so no eating or drinking after) and in the morning eat, smoke, drink your coffee (whatever you do) and "then" brush, floss and swish! :)
~edit~ It won't stain teeth permanently, it can be polished off the teeth easily. also, I noticed someone put on here that it seemed a bit overkill to swish with it after RCT, and that may or may not be true. Beig that we cannot know exactly why, we cannot diagnose the need or no need for it. For example, if you had an endo abcsess with a draining fistula, had some trauma from the rubber dam, etc. there are endless possibilities that your dentist prescribed the rinse.
Don't be concerned... just ride out the 2 weeks, get a tongue scraper and limit the coffee/tea/dark pop/smoking/etc right after you swish and you will be fine. :)Health Question & Answer
Are you drinking coffee or smoking.? This will increase the stain. Limit your eating and drinking to 30 minutes after you swish.
When you swish at night do it before you go to bed (so no eating or drinking after) and in the morning eat, smoke, drink your coffee (whatever you do) and "then" brush, floss and swish! :)
~edit~ It won't stain teeth permanently, it can be polished off the teeth easily. also, I noticed someone put on here that it seemed a bit overkill to swish with it after RCT, and that may or may not be true. Beig that we cannot know exactly why, we cannot diagnose the need or no need for it. For example, if you had an endo abcsess with a draining fistula, had some trauma from the rubber dam, etc. there are endless possibilities that your dentist prescribed the rinse.
Don't be concerned... just ride out the 2 weeks, get a tongue scraper and limit the coffee/tea/dark pop/smoking/etc right after you swish and you will be fine. :)Health Question & Answer
No not permanently...but you might want to reduce to just one time per day.......Health Question & Answer