According to some research, there are 700 species of bacteria in a person’s mouth.
If you don’t want to expose yourself to all of those bacteria when you’re working on a patient’s mouth, you should invest in nitrile exam gloves.
These are the most popular option for pediatric dentists, but keep reading to find out why!
What Are Nitrile Gloves
Nitrile gloves are gloves that are great for almost any purpose or application. They are a good barrier so that you don’t get bases, acids, oils, or hydrocarbons on your hand.
They’re also very resistant to being punctured, in case a patient bites on your hand or you scrape it with a tool. If something does damage or tear your glove, you’ll notice immediately so that you can switch to a new glove or treat an affected area.
One of the main reason that health professionals like these gloves are that they don’t contain any latex.
Latex is a material that is found in a tree in tropical areas in the world, and it’s commonly used in gloves, clothing, and condoms. However, some people have allergic reactions to latex.
These symptoms might be mild, but some people could have adverse reactions, including shock.
To avoid the possibility of an allergic reaction, you should only use nitrile gloves in your office. They’re made out of man-made materials, like butadiene and acrylonitrile. Because they’re man-made, they’re also more sustainable as well.
Colors
When you’re buying nitrile
For example, if you’re going to be testing substances in a lab, you should have a different color for that so that your employees know that they should be careful.
You may also want to double glove in the case that the glove does tear. If you’re going to wear two gloves, it might be better to wear gloves that are contrasting colors so you can see a tear quickly.
Many dental offices also have scrubs wear the same color so that they can stay organized and know who is in charge of doing what.
Infection Protection
Another reason these gloves are great is that the CDC recommends them. In fact, the CDC recommends them only in medical situations.
They’re recommended if you’re going to be cleaning or disinfecting surfaces, especially if a patient was sick. You should also always use them if you’ll be in contact with bodily fluids like vomit or saliva.
These gloves are designed to be disposed of, so make sure you throw them away after each use and thoroughly wash your hands each time.
Benefits
Aside from the other advantages, Nitrile gloves are much more resistant than latex gloves, which makes them the preferred option. In fact, many people refer to them as medical-grade, which means they’ve been tested under many different environments.
While they’re used in dentist offices, they’re also used in hospitals, care environments, and even automotive environments because they’re protective against oil and other lubricants.
They’re also free of any powders, so you don’t have to worry about any mess each time you use them. Each glove is also coated with a chlorinated finish, which makes the process of duffing and donning the gloves easier, even if the hands are wet.
This makes it great if you’re going to be changing them constantly, like in a dentist’s office.
While they’re puncture-resistant, they’re still incredibly flexible and sensitive. They will fit comfortably on your hand, and you shouldn’t have any hand fatigue. This glove also offers low levels of friction.
Since nitrile is also a substance that is man-made, it won’t be affected by any price fluctuations like latex would be. It also has a longer shelf life than any other disposable option.
With many people looking for sustainably sourced options, nitrile gloves are becoming even more popular.
Factors to Consider
If you’re convinced that you need nitrile gloves, there are a few factors to consider before you buy anything.
If