Gloves in latex or nitrile?
With or without powder?

Choosing the right gloves is not easy, especially when you want to get it right for your job. Doctors, dentists, cooks, tattoo artists and anyone who works with chemicals are just a few of the professional categories that make daily use of gloves to do their work safely and well. There is a big market for gloves and many different types are available for purchase. Each single product has special features, making it suitable for given functions and requirements. So, here are some handy tips to help you find your way around the glove market and choose the right pair for yourself.

Originally created as an alternative for anyone with an allergy to latex proteins, nitrile gloves soon gain popularity due to their exceptional sturdiness. Indeed, gloves made from this material boast a mechanical and chemical resistance which is above that of other types. This means that they are highly suitable for any situations which involve a risk of perforations, cuts, punctures or having to handle particularly aggressive chemicals. What is more, the extreme suppleness and ergonomic nature of Nitrile gloves is only slightly less than that of latex ones. In comparison, though, they are less cheap so when used for medical purposes, choosing autoclavable products is recommended.

When to use nitrile gloves

A whole set of features have led to nitrile gloves being used as Medical Devices (both for outpatient care and medical usage), but generally speaking they are the preferred choice of specialists who handle potentially sharp or cutting instruments, or professionals who need to work with harmful chemicals. They are safe for contact with various kinds of foodstuffs, so they are also used to a great extent in the food-processing industry.

Latex gloves offer good tactile sensations, suppleness and impermeability. Being thin, supple and close fitting, they do not interfere with dexterity even for fiddly tasks, yet they also have good mechanical resistance. Used as medical devices, latex gloves provide an excellent protective barrier against contamination and infections, providing great safety and comfort standards, especially when disposable gloves are chosen. Latex gloves also offer good protection against most caustic substances and detergents, including rubbing alcohol.

When to use latex gloves

Their particular features make disposable latex gloves ideal for delicate operations, where manual precision and dexterity are necessary, and whenever there is any biological risk and it is necessary to have contact with blood or bodily fluids repeatedly or for long periods of time. This is why latex gloves are commonly used by dentists and doctors, but they are likewise suitable for anyone working in beauty salons or involved in the preparation of drugs and cosmetics, seeing as these sectors entail contact with a moderate amount of chemicals.

There is a whole array of different kinds of latex gloves on the market, but to limit the risk of any allergies or sensitisation, it is always a good idea to choose products made from natural biocompatible latex with low levels of residual protein.

Another issue that crops up when one is faced with choosing the right gloves is that of whether they should have powder inside or not. So, better with or without powder?

When it is used, powder acts as a lubricant, making it easier to don the glove and fit it onto the hand. Powdered gloves currently available on the market mainly use cornstarch as a lubricant.

However, this solution is not advisable, because the latex proteins and starch particles come into contact with each other, and once the gloves are removed, these particles are released into the air, raising the likelihood of sensitisation and allergic reactions. This is why several hospitals have decided to get rid of gloves containing powder. A powder-free atmosphere leads to fewer reactions of intolerance, staff breathing problems are drastically cut and patients are less prone to post-operatory complications.

Therefore, powder-free latex gloves for medical purposes are certainly the best to choose. This is the best way to stave off allergic reactions and complications, without having to sacrifice the inherent qualities of the glove.

Euronda Monoart latex gloves are made from latex and natural rubber with low levels of residual protein (< 50 mg/g) which limits the risk of allergy and increases biocompatibility. They are free of lubricating powder which often causes latex-related respiratory ailments and provide an excellent barrier against infection. What is more, the lined polymer interior makes them easy to don and reduces the risk of skin irritation.

This is why they are the best possible choice for daily protection in your dental practice.

Not to mention their stylishness! The disposable gloves are available in four different colours (blue, lime, lilac and pink) so you are free to turn your working environment into a welcoming friendly place for your patients.