Denture Cream

Denture adhesive cream linked to zinc poisoning.

Chronic and excessive use of denture adhesive creams such as Fixodent, PoliGrip and Super PoliGrip have been linked to a condition called hyperzincuria or zinc poisoning which can lead to more serious and permanently disabling injuries including copper depletion (hypocupremia), nerve damage and even death.

Denture adhesive cream is an over-the-counter product that is applied to dentures prior to insertion to help hold them in place. Most denture adhesives contain the trace mineral zinc. Small amounts of zinc are necessary for a healthy and balanced diet but can be toxic if ingested in large amounts. Many denture wearers, particularly those with loose or poorly fitting dentures, may use excessive amounts of denture adhesive to hold dentures in place, causing them to ingest abnormally high levels of zinc daily. A proper balance of zinc and copper in the body is essential for neurological health. However, ingesting excessive amounts of one of these metals can cause a depletion of the other, which can lead to serious neurological problems.

Study links chronic and excessive use of denture adhesive creams to neurological disease.

In a study published in the August 2008 issue of the journal Neurology, researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas studied four denture-wearing patients who had developed neurological problems, all of whom were chronic and excessive users of denture adhesive cream. All four subjects had abnormally high levels of zinc in their blood, accompanied by abnormally low levels of copper. Neither of these conditions could be attributed to any alternative source. Based on the study, researchers concluded that chronic and excessive use of zinc-containing denture creams may result in copper depletion and serious neurological disease.

Signs and Symptoms of Neuropathy

Chronic and excessive use of zinc-containing denture adhesives has been linked to permanently disabling and life-threatening injuries including:

* Hyperzincuria or Zinc Poisoning (abnormally high levels of zinc in the blood)
* Hypocupremia or Copper Depletion (abnormally low levels of copper in the blood)
* Neuropathy (nerve damage)

Signs and Symptoms of Neuropathy include:

* Loss of sensation, numbness or tingling in the extremities
* Unexplained weakness or pain in the extremities
* Loss of ability to move legs, feet, arms, or hands
* Poor balance and coordination, decrease in walking stride
* Abnormal blood pressure and heart rate
* Reduced ability to perspire, constipation and bladder dysfunction (urinary incontinence)
* Loss of cognitive function

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