Toothpaste overdose

Home treatment:

Give milk every 4 hours. Vomiting is often spontaneous negating the need to induce it. Before inducing emesis, contact Poison Control for treatment recommendations.

If instructed to induce emesis, the standard procedure is as follows:

Give the usual dose of ipecac syrup: 15 milliliters (ml) or 1 TABLEspoonful for children and 30 ml (2 TABLEspoonsful) for adults. Follow with 1/2 glassful or 4 ounces (oz.) of water for children or 8 to 12 oz. of water for adults. Repeat 1 more time in 1/2 hour if emesis has not occurred.

Before calling emergency:

Determine the following information:

• the patient's age, weight, and condition
• the name of the product (as well as the ingredients and strength if known)
• the time it was swallowed
• the amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses. Take the container with you to the emergency room.

What to expect at the emergency room:

Some or all of the following procedures may be performed:

• for fluoridated toothpastes
  • Induce emesis.
  • Use gastric lavage.
  • Give milk or calcium in some form.
  • Treat the symptoms.

• for regular toothpastes
  • The patient may not need to be seen in the emergency room.
  • Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

For fluoridated toothpastes: If the patient survives for 48 hours, recovery is usually likely.

For regular toothpastes: Most non fluoridated toothpastes are relatively nontoxic. Recovery is very likely.