Is Nitrous Oxide Safe for Children? A Parent's Guide
Reviewed by Dr. Michael K. Wilkerson, DDS, pediatric dentist in Boerne, TX
Quick Summary
Yes. For most healthy children, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is a safe, mild way to take the edge off dental anxiety when it’s given and monitored by a trained dental team. Your child stays awake, it starts working in a few minutes, and it wears off within minutes after the mask comes off. A quick health check beforehand matters, especially a stuffy nose or recent illness.
- The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry calls carefully used nitrous oxide a safe and effective way to control anxiety.
- The most common side effect, nausea or vomiting, happens in only about 1 in 100 children.
- No fasting is required; a light meal beforehand is best, and a heavy meal raises the chance of nausea.
- Asthma is not a reason to avoid it; a stuffy nose or cold usually means rescheduling.
- Most kids are back to normal within minutes and can return to school.
Table of Contents
- Is Nitrous Oxide Safe for Children?
- How Laughing Gas Works
- Side Effects to Know About
- How Long Does It Last?
- Is Laughing Gas Safe With Asthma?
- When Nitrous Oxide May Not Be the Right Fit
- What to Expect at the Visit
- How It Compares to Other Sedation
- Laughing Gas at The Kid’s Place in Boerne
- Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nitrous Oxide Safe for Children?
For most healthy kids, yes. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s guidance on nitrous oxide states that careful use of nitrous oxide with oxygen “can provide a safe and effective method of controlling anxiety” in children. It’s the mildest form of sedation pediatric dentists use, and it has been used with children for decades.
“Safe” still depends on a few things: a dental team trained to give it, the right mix of gas and oxygen, monitoring the whole time, and a quick review of your child’s health beforehand.
How Laughing Gas Works
Nitrous oxide, often called laughing gas, is a gas blended with oxygen that your child breathes through a small mask over the nose. It helps them feel calm, relaxed and sometimes a little giggly, while they stay awake and able to talk and follow directions.
- It starts working within about 3 to 5 minutes.
- The dentist can turn it up or down during the visit.
- No needles are needed to give it.
- It’s often paired with gentle numbing, like our Soan painless numbing, for fillings.
Laughing gas calms nerves; it doesn’t numb the tooth. If your child needs a filling, they’ll still get local numbing.
Side Effects to Know About
Side effects are uncommon and short-lived. According to the AAPD:
- Nausea or vomiting is the most common, happening in only about 0.5 to 1.2% of patients. It’s more likely after a heavy meal or with longer, stronger doses.
- Less often: headache, dizziness, sweating, feeling restless or feeling “weird.”
To lower the chance of an upset stomach, give your child a light meal before the visit, not a big one. Fasting isn’t required for laughing gas alone. Tell us if your child has been sick to their stomach recently.
How Long Does It Last?
Not long. Nitrous oxide leaves the body through the lungs, so it wears off within minutes once the gas is turned off. At the end of the visit, your child breathes pure oxygen for at least five minutes to clear the gas, and the team makes sure they’re back to normal before they leave.
Most children can go right back to school or their normal day.
Is Laughing Gas Safe With Asthma?
Usually, yes. The AAPD notes that nitrous oxide doesn’t irritate the airways, so asthma is not a reason to avoid it, and it may even lower the stress that can trigger an asthma flare.
What matters more is how your child is breathing that day. Bring their inhaler and medication list, and tell us about any recent flare-ups, wheezing or coughing at night.
When Nitrous Oxide May Not Be the Right Fit
The gas only works if your child can breathe comfortably through their nose. Let us know before the visit if your child has:
- A cold, stuffy nose, sinus infection or allergy flare (the most common reason to reschedule)
- A recent ear infection or ear, nose or throat surgery
- Vitamin B12 deficiency, or a strict vegan or vegetarian diet, since nitrous oxide affects B12
- A known MTHFR gene variant or other metabolic condition
- Serious lung, heart or blood conditions (like sickle cell disease), a recent head injury, or special health care needs
- Enlarged tonsils or other airway concerns
Many of these don’t rule laughing gas out; they just mean the dentist will review the plan with you, and sometimes with your child’s doctor.
What to Expect at the Visit
- Meet the mask. Your child gets to see and hold the nose mask first.
- Breathe through the nose. The gas starts with plain oxygen, then the laughing gas is slowly added.
- Relax. Within a few minutes most kids feel calm, floaty or giggly, and their arms and legs may feel heavy or tingly.
- Treatment. Your child stays awake and can talk to the team, who watch their breathing and comfort the whole time.
- Oxygen to finish. Pure oxygen for at least five minutes clears the gas.
- Back to normal. Most kids are ready to go within minutes.
Tip: practice breathing through the nose at home, like smelling a flower, so it feels familiar.
Book a visit at The Kid’s Place →
How It Compares to Other Sedation
| Option | How your child feels | Recovery | Often used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laughing gas | Awake and relaxed | Minutes | Mild to moderate anxiety |
| Oral sedation | Drowsy but awake | Several hours; rest at home | Moderate anxiety, longer visits |
| General anesthesia | Fully asleep | Monitored recovery | Severe anxiety, special needs, extensive treatment |
Read more about each option on our sedation dentistry page.
Laughing Gas at The Kid’s Place in Boerne
Dr. Michael K. Wilkerson is a board-certified pediatric dentist with over 30 years of experience providing sedation for children. At The Kid’s Place, laughing gas is one of several ways we help nervous kids, along with:
- A kids-only office with arcade games, movies and free slushies
- Acclimation visits for very anxious children
- Soan painless numbing by DentalHiTech
- Oral sedation, and in-office general anesthesia with a visiting board-certified anesthesia professional
Wondering if laughing gas is right for your child? Call us at (830) 239-5411, or read how we help anxious kids.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is nitrous oxide safe for children?
For most healthy children, yes. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says carefully used nitrous oxide with oxygen is a safe and effective way to control anxiety. Children stay awake, it works within minutes, and it wears off within minutes after the mask comes off. A dental team trained to give it should review your child's health and monitor them throughout.
What are the side effects of laughing gas for kids?
Side effects are uncommon and short-lived. The most common is nausea or vomiting, in about 0.5 to 1.2% of patients, more likely after a heavy meal. Less often, kids may have a headache, dizziness or feel restless. A light meal beforehand helps.
Can my child go back to school after laughing gas?
Usually yes. Nitrous oxide leaves the body through the lungs and wears off within minutes. Your child breathes pure oxygen for at least five minutes at the end, and the team makes sure they're back to normal before leaving.
Is laughing gas safe for children with asthma?
Usually. The AAPD notes nitrous oxide doesn't irritate the airways, so asthma isn't a reason to avoid it. What matters more is how your child is breathing that day; a cold or stuffy nose often means rescheduling. Bring your child's inhaler and medication list.
Does my child need to fast before laughing gas?
No fasting is required for laughing gas alone. A light meal beforehand is best, since a heavy meal raises the chance of nausea. Other types of sedation, like oral sedation, do have fasting rules, and your dentist will give you instructions.
Does The Kid's Place offer laughing gas?
Yes. Dr. Michael K. Wilkerson, a board-certified pediatric dentist in Boerne, offers nitrous oxide, oral sedation and in-office general anesthesia, along with Soan painless numbing and acclimation visits for anxious kids. Call (830) 239-5411.
🎮 Kids can test their tooth smarts with our free Dental Trivia Challenge.