Use caution with products containing benzocaine

Previous advice included putting a small amount of a nonprescription pain reliever containing benzocaine directly to the irritated tooth and gum for temporary relief. But benzocaine has been linked to a rare and serious, sometimes deadly, condition called methemoglobinemia (met-hee-muh-GLO-buh-nee-mee-uh). This condition lowers the amount of oxygen that the blood can carry. So follow these guidelines:

• Talk to your dentist, doctor or other healthcare professional before using any product that contains benzocaine.
• In children younger than 2 years old, don't use any products that contain benzocaine, such as teething gels with benzocaine (Anbesol, Orajel, others).
• Never use more than the recommended dose of benzocaine.
• Store products containing benzocaine out of the reach of children.