The days of drooling for hours after a visit to the dentist could become a thing of the past. Researchers are working on an alternative to local anesthetics like Novocain and lidocaine. The new formula combines a normally inactive ingredient of lidocaine and capsaicin (the substance that makes chili peppers "hot"). Together, they block pain receptors in the body. But unlike conventional pain killers, they don't block "touch" receptors or paralyze surrounding muscles.

From Early to Rise Newsletter