Nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas, is a colorless gas used for sedation and pain control. Some of its effects are the appearance of euphoria, numbness of the body, a feeling of sedation, dizziness, uncontrolled laughter, motor incoordination, blurred vision, confusion and fatigue. These effects are directly associated with the inhalation of the gas, so they disappear immediately in about 3-5 minutes after stopping it.

The United States and England are the countries where the most cases are increasing, in fact, the US has prohibited the sale of cans of whipped cream to those under 21 years of age.

Health professionals are warning about this new way of consuming this gas, which has caused, in these countries, an increase in cases of neurological problems and spinal cord damage.

Nitrous oxide is exclusively restricted to medical prescription, since it can carry serious risks, such as a sudden drop in blood pressure, myocardial infarction, hypoxia (lack of oxygen) or visual hallucinations, among others.

The health workers who use it, including dentists, must receive specific training on its proper use, indications, contraindications, as well as on the measures to be taken in the event of complications.

Dr. Óscar Castro Reino, president of the General Council of Dentists, declares that “in dental clinics it is used, fundamentally, for interventions that are not too long in patients who do not control or poorly control their degree of anxiety (odontophobia). It is classified within the group of anesthetics, although it is usually used in lower concentrations mixed with oxygen. In this way, the patient does not fall asleep, who can continue to collaborate without feeling pain or remembering anything about that period due to its amnesic effect. Likewise, its use must be preceded by a prior analysis of the state of health of the person who is going to receive it, their age, their weight, and the possible association with other drugs or drugs”. 

In addition, the president of the Collegiate Organization explains that the use of this gas is usually associated with the consumption of other substances such as alcohol or drugs, which increases health risks, due to disinhibition and loss of the sense of risk. “The increase in self-consumption by young people and adolescents should be considered a serious public health problem. In England and Wales, for example, from 2019-20, almost 9% of young people aged 16 to 24 used nitrous oxide in the last year, compared to 6.1% in 2012-13”, concludes Dr. Castro.