Patients Worried about Zinc Poisoning Should See Doctor

March 17, 2010, 3:30PM. By Heidi Turner

Bellevue, WAPatients who are worried about developing denture cream poisoning should speak with a doctor about their concerns. Fixodent denture adhesive and other denture creams have been linked to zinc poisoning, a serious condition that can cause permanent health problems.

At greatest risk for zinc poisoning are those who, for various reasons, use excessive amounts of denture cream over a long period of time. Patients with loose-fitting dentures often go through multiple tubes in a week, when in fact one tube is meant to last for up to 10 weeks.

Excess zinc can deplete patients' copper levels, which can result in neuropathy. Symptoms of copper depletion and zinc poisoning include numbness and tingling in the arms and legs. However, these are also symptoms of other health problems, and there are other factors that can cause neuropathy as well. These include hormonal imbalances, blood diseases and infections. It is therefore vital that a patient be properly tested for factors that could have caused the neuropathy.

Furthermore, if patients stop using the denture cream and do not get tested right away, their zinc and copper levels may return to normal even if the neuropathy persists. Patients should not make any changes until they have spoken with their doctor about their health problems and the possible link to denture cream use.

Lawsuits have been filed against GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Super Poligrip, and Procter & Gamble, maker of Fixodent, alleging the companies did not adequately warn people about the risks associated with using excess denture cream. GlaxoSmithKline has announced it is removing zinc from its denture adhesives.