Q&A: What Should I Do With Old Dental Prescriptions?

Are you someone who receives a prescription, takes what you need, and then leaves the bottle in the back of your medicine cabinet without thinking about it again for a long time? If so, you may not realize that this can present you with some serious problems! The good news is that we can most certainly help you out by explaining complications of this dental care concern and what to do about them with a brief Q&A session.

Questions and Answers

Question: I have some old pain medicine that I received after a dental care treatment years ago. It’s expired, so I’m wondering if I can still take it or if I need to get rid of it.

Answer: You should never take expired medicine. Nor should you take medicine unless it is specifically for the reason the drug was prescribed. You should dispose of this medication through safe means.

Question: How do I get rid of them in a safe way? I keep hearing that it’s not a good idea to just throw them in the trash, down the sink, or in the toilet. However, I don’t really know what to do.

Answer: In some instances, the package will provide you with disposal instructions. However, if not, it’s important to make use of a Controlled Substance Public Disposal Location for safe handling.

Question: What if I’m just really careful about getting rid of my dental care medicines by putting them down my toilet and flushing multiple times? That way, nobody will have access to them.

Answer: Unfortunately, when you send your pills down the toilet, you send them (eventually) into public waterways. This can become harmful to fish and may cause some serious disruption to the usual balance in the ecosystem at large.

Dispose Of Old Prescriptions Carefully

Let us know if you need assistance disposing of old dental care prescriptions, so we may offer you the advice you’re seeking. Come in for a visit in Conroe, TX by scheduling a visit with the Dental Centre of Conroe by calling (936) 441-4600. We serve patients from Conroe, Houston, The Woodlands, Willis, Montgomery, Magnolia, Huntsville, and the neighboring communities.