Will this poison me?
December 25, 2011 5:48 AM   Subscribe

I just brushed my teeth with Vagisil cream on accident. Will this kill me? Also, how can I get this nasty taste out of my mouth?

I pulled a small white tube out of my toiletry bag, thinking it was my travel-sized toothpaste. NOPE. I put some on the toothbrush and brushed my teeth to find a nasty taste and a slightly numb tongue.

Is this going to kill me or anything? I spit it out, brushed my teeth with toothpaste and rinsed my mouth immediately afterward.

Also, the taste still lingers. How can I make it go away?

If it's relevant, the cream is hydrocortisone with lidocaine added.
posted by cp311 to Health & Fitness (9 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
 
Call poision control. They'll give you practical tips.
posted by k8t at 5:53 AM on December 25, 2011 [2 favorites]


Yikes!

Unless it's made of cyanide, it's unlikely to kill you. And I bet you didn't swallow any, so it's unlikely to make you even sick to your stomach.

The lidocaine numbness will wear off in a little while. In the meantime, brush again with actual toothpaste. If that doesn't kill the taste, pour some bourbon or whisky in your coffee (if you drink) - it may not kill the taste, but at least you won't care as much.

Aren't the holidays fun?
posted by rtha at 5:53 AM on December 25, 2011 [12 favorites]




I brushed my teeth with cortisone once, I sympathize.

It tasted gross for a bit but I was fine. Rinse your mouth out with some listerine if you have some and sip something strong tasting, like coffee. I honestly doubt that vagisil will cause you any harm beyond the grossness of the taste and texture.
posted by lydhre at 8:18 AM on December 25, 2011


There's an 800 number on their website: http://www.vagisil.com/contactus.shtml
posted by cjorgensen at 8:51 AM on December 25, 2011


No, it won't hurt you any at all. It wasn't designed for oral, but there's nothing in it that will make you sick. The numb feeling is from the lidocaine and should wear off in within an hour.
posted by SLC Mom at 8:52 AM on December 25, 2011


If you just spit in a hurry you're OK.
I learned my lesson a year ago when I was camping and discovered, in the dark, that travel toothpaste and Tinactin tubes are the same size. I now only carry larger toothpaste tubes. Word to the wise.
posted by cccorlew at 9:09 AM on December 25, 2011


Hydrocortisone is sometimes given orally, so presumably even if you did swallow a little bit it's not going to kill you.
posted by hattifattener at 8:41 PM on December 25, 2011


You'll be fine. Corticosteroids have a terrible bitter taste.
posted by candasartan at 3:06 PM on December 26, 2011


« Older An injury is much sooner forgotten than an insult...   |   Hearing aids: high pitched squeal upon hugging.... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.