Triamcinolone dental paste (brand name Oralone) is a topical corticosteroid medication used to treat and relieve symptoms of mouth sores and irritated areas in the mouth caused by injury in adults. This medication works by reducing inflammation, which helps with pain, itching, and swelling in the mouth. You typically apply this medication up to 3 times daily if needed. Side effects include temporary burning and itching.
Relieve symptoms of mouth sores and irritated areas caused by injury
Triamcinolone dental paste is a topical corticosteroid. When it’s used in the mouth, it lowers the amount of inflammatory chemicals that cause redness, itching, and swelling. This helps to ease mouth discomfort due to sores or irritation from injury.
Source:Â DailyMed
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin
irritation
itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin
redness and scaling around the mouth
thinning of the skin with easy bruising, especially when used on the face or where the skin folds together (e.g. between the fingers)
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
burning and itching of the skin with pinhead-sized red blisters
burning, itching, and pain in hairy areas, or pus at the root of the hair
increased hair growth on the forehead, back, arms, and legs
lightening of normal skin color
lightening of treated areas of dark skin
reddish purple lines on the arms, face, legs, trunk, or groin
softening of the skin
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
The only steroid dental paste to treat mouth discomfort
Helps with canker sore symptoms as early as day 1
Fewer side effects than oral steroids
For short-term use, no more than 7 days
Not known if it's safe for children
Might need to be applied multiple times a day
Triamcinolone dental paste should only be used inside the mouth. Don't use it in your eyes or on your skin.
How to use triamcinolone dental paste: Dab about 1/4 inch of paste onto the mouth sores to create a thin film. Avoid rubbing in the paste since that can create a gritty texture and cause the medication to fall part.
Apply triamcinolone dental paste after meals or at bedtime to prevent the film from being rubbed off.
If your symptoms don't improve after 1 week of using triamcinolone dental paste, talk with your healthcare team. They might want to check for other possible health problems.
Ask your healthcare team how long you should use triamcinolone dental paste. Typically, they will recommend stopping this medication when your symptoms are under control. Using this medication for longer than recommended can put you at risk for more side effects.
When you're using triamcinolone dental paste, don't start another topical steroid without checking with your healthcare team first. Using more than one topical steroid at a time can raise your risk of serious side effects, such as skin thinning or hormone-related problems.
Triamcinolone dental paste can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: Using high potency topical steroids | Using triamcinolone dental paste for a long period of time | Using excessive amounts of triamcinolone dental paste on your skin | Covering applied area with a bandage | Young children
In some rare cases, using topical triamcinolone dental paste for a long time and over a large skin area can cause a medical condition called adrenal suppression. This happens when your body doesn't make enough of steroid hormones, which creates a dependence on steroid medication. And if you suddenly stop the medication, it can lead to symptoms of withdrawal such as fever, joint or muscle pain, and low energy. In children, symptoms often include stunted growth, weight gain, and headaches. To prevent adrenal suppression from happening, your healthcare team will prescribe the lowest possible dose of triamcinolone dental paste for the shortest amount of time. Let your prescriber know if you have symptoms of withdrawal. Don't suddenly stop using triamcinolone dental paste without talking to your care team first.
Using triamcinolone dental paste long term can raise the risk of mouth infections, such as fungal or bacterial infections. Don't use triamcinolone dental paste if you have a mouth infection because it can make your infection worse. Let your healthcare team know if you have redness, swelling, pain, pus, or if your current symptoms don't improve after 7 days of treatment. These can be signs and symptoms of a new infection.
Risk factors: Excessive and inappropriate use of triamcinolone dental paste | Using a lot of triamcinolone dental paste
Using triamcinolone dental paste longer than directed by your healthcare team can raise your risk of different skin reactions, including skin thinning, stretch marks, spider veins, burning, itching, irritation, dry skin, inflamed hair follicles, changes in skin color, or rash. To prevent severe skin reactions from happening, your care team will prescribe the lowest possible dose of triamcinolone dental paste to treat your symptoms for the shortest amount of time. Let your healthcare team know right away if you notice any new or worsening skin problems.
Risk factors: History of allergies to steroids
Triamcinolone dental paste can cause allergic reactions. Sometimes you might be allergic if your sores aren't healing or if your pain and redness worsen. If you experience mouth irritation, itching, or swelling, let your healthcare team know right away.
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
5g of 0.1% | 1 tube | $26.99 | $26.99 |
Apply a small amount (about 1/4 inch) to the affected area(s) at bedtime. If your symptoms are severe, you can apply it up 2 to 3 times daily after meals.
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 doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Current fungal, viral, or bacterial infections of the mouth or throat
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Kavita, K., et al. (2020). Assessment of efficacy of 5% topical amlexanox and 0.1% topical triamcinolone acetonide in management of recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences.
Lam, L. H., et al. (2016). Adrenal suppression with chronic topical corticosteroid use in psoriasis patients. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
MedlinePlus. (2023). Corticosteroids overdose.
Quagen Pharmaceuticals LLC. (2023). Triamcinolone acetonide paste [package insert]. DailyMed.
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