The popular denture adhesive creams Poligrip and Fixodent used by an estimated 35 million Americans have been linked to the development of various adverse events including Zinc Poisoning, Hypocupremia, Hyperzincemia or Neuropathy.
Denture Cream Controversy & Neuropathy
Denture cream users have reported various health problems ranging from neuropathy to milder forms of elevated or decreased levels of minerals in their blood.
In fact, doctors at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas have reported that denture-wearing patients developed neuropathy after using denture creams.
Researchers with the American Academy of Neurology have also reported that, “Chronic, excess zinc intake can result in copper deficiency and profound neurologic disease. However, when hyperzincemia is identified, the source often remains elusive. We identified four patients, one previously reported, with various neurologic abnormalities in the setting of hypocupremia and hyperzincemia. Each of these patients wore dentures and used very large amounts of denture cream chronically.”
Researchers estimate that denture cream users are exposed to approximately 330 mg of zinc daily, far more than the recommended daily allowance of 8 mg for women and 11 mg for men. The National Academy of Sciences stated in 2001 that the largest daily tolerable zinc intake is 40 mg.
Excessive intake of the mineral zinc can lead to neuropathy, also referred to as peripheral neuropathy. Neuropathy is typically characterized by weakness, loss of sensation, tingling in the extremities, and numbness.
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