1 Denture wearers warned about risk of excess zinc intake

Zinc is considered an essential mineral for the human body. However, excess zinc intake can be harmful/toxic.

Now, a new study has asked denture wearers to pay special attention to the amount of zinc they consume.

"If a patient wears dentures, it is essential that he or she follows the instructions and recommended dosages on the product label," said J.A. von Fraunhofer, co-author of the study.  

"Many times, patients will overuse the adhesive and, although it happens rarely, they can ingest toxic levels of zinc, with adverse neurologic effects," he added.he optimal use of denture adhesive involves placing a thin film or a series of dots across the denture surface, which will ensure that a patient is not overusing the adhesive.

A single tube should last three to 10 weeks with daily use, although actual usage depends on the number of applications per day.An ill-fitting denture is one reason that a patient could be overusing adhesive," said Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson Manuel A. Cordero.

"With age, your mouth will continue to change as the bone under your denture shrinks or recedes. If the denture doesn't fit correctly, the patient tends to use more adhesive to try to get the denture to stay in place," he said.o maintain a proper fit over time, patients should be evaluated by a dentist every six months.Abusing denture adhesive could cause nausea, stomachache, and mouth irritation," said Cordero.  

"Over time, toxic levels of zinc could cause a copper deficiency, which has been linked to neurological damage," he added.he study is published in the March/April 2011 issue of General Dentistry. (ANI)

Could this "new study" be a response/watering down of the following lawsuits?.....

Lawsuits blame denture adhesives for neurological damage

February 15, 2010

A Miami man in his 60s suddenly has trouble walking. A Colorado woman in her 40s starts losing the use of her legs. A Texas woman in her 20s feels tingling, then numbness that starts in her feet and crawls up to her thighs.

All three blame an unlikely suspect: denture adhesives.

A growing number of lawsuits are being filed against the manufacturers of popular products like Super Poligrip and Fixodent, alleging that the zinc in the adhesives is leading to serious neurological problems — and in one case, death. In Miami alone, more than 70 such cases have been filed, and although none is in Tampa Bay area courts, local pros­thodontists say their denture-wearing patients are asking how they can protect themselves.

The suits claim that denture adhesive manufacturers GlaxoSmithKline (Super Poligrip) and Procter & Gamble (Fixodent) failed to adequately warn consumers that ingesting the high levels of zinc found in many of their products could be dangerous. 

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