PennWell Dental Community
Is too much dental cream dangerous?
This issue just recently came to the attention of the general public on Good Morning America. Is the use of too much denture cream bad for a person's health? The woman interviewed has numerous problems, from numbness and loss of balance to tremors. Some experts are attributing her health problems to too much zinc in her denture cream. But she was also using far beyond the recommended dosage of the cream, literally pouring it on her dentures, while the manufacturer maintains that four small dollops of the cream on dentures are all that is needed. This issue will take years to work its way through courts and medical research of course, but in the meantime, it might be a warning to people to decrease how much denture cream they use if they pour on too much or are experiencing health issues. For dental professionals, this is another good reason to prescribe implant-retained dentures.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Duane DaPron on -
This is a great issue to bring to the attention of people. While recommended dosages need to be followed by individuals, if the denture cream itself is not properly mixed, then the bantering between the two sides will certainly continue for some time. It will definitely be interesting to see how this issue plays out in the future.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Jane RDH BS on -
She must be swallowing a lot if she is using that much and how often does she re-apply it. It will be interesting to follow this. Everybody has their own sensitivities. Hope for her sake she gets them relined..
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Permalink Reply by Meg Kaiser on -
It's not just people who use too much. To quote this article (http://www.times-standard.com/davestancliff/ci_12821128) "Studies indicate that people who use too much denture cream because of ill-fitting dentures are the ones showing neurological damage. Other factors come into play, too. Some people wear their dentures to bed. This gives the zinc in the denture cream a greater chance to be ingested. Another factor is how many years a person uses the cream. The longer the use, the greater the chance of absorbing unwanted amounts of zinc into the body."
It will be interesting to see how the lawsuits are settled. There are several sites created by attorneys searching for those who are having troubles related to their denture cream.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Jane RDH BS on
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I brought this to the notice of my boss. He was a zoology professor before he went to Tuft's and he found this whole discussion very interesting. he is going to contact some of his old buddies and see if they know anything. I have never had a patient react to a cream but they do tend to use too much..human nature, I ' m afraid.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Jane RDH BS on
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Again ,as my boss just said, the amount is the factor. High levels of zinc is what causes the neuropathy. Some of these products have come out with a formula that states in big letters to use only a very tiny amount. Think of toothpaste ingestion and fluorosis. Amount is crucial.
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Permalink Reply by Meg Kaiser on
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Common sense dictates "everything in moderation." Unfortunately those suffering assumed if the product is safe to put in their mouths, it is safe to use a whole lot. (You're absolutely right. Human nature.) That didn't turn out to be the case. I would be very interested to hear from your boss and his friends.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Jane RDH BS on
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Since this is a very serious side affect, the company, just in my opinion, has to do something i.e. change the formula so this does not happen. On the average, denture users are forty and older. Alzheimer's can have early signs that no one notices; we protect our young; maybe we should look out equally for the elderly.
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Permalink Reply by Meg Kaiser on
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Well said, Mary. You're right about early Alzheimer's and taking care of our elderly. But can they retain what they read on a label? Just glad that this isn't a really widespread problem.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Jane RDH BS on
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That' exactly what I mean..they can't. They won't even read it. Many others don't read it either. Products that contain anything like this should not be out there. Let companies spend some money, do some research and find a safe substitute.
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Permalink Reply by Mary Jane RDH BS on
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What about the terrible stuff that just won't come off when people pass you their denture to clean in the ultrasonic when they come in for their check-up. I actually used a tongue scraper on a palate to get into the rugae to get it off. What if people are thoroughly cleaning it and it just sits there? When you do think about it, it gets even scarier.
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Permalink Reply by Meg Kaiser on
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And more gross. Didn't need the tongue scraper image, but you do what you have to do.
And you're right. If there's some way to eliminate the contaminants from these products, it should be done. Surely there's a new formula out there that doesn't contain any dangerous chemicals. Perhaps the companies are working on it. That sure would be nice. Am I dreaming here?
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Permalink Reply by Mary Jane RDH BS on
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Better to dream than not..and to have faith
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General dentist in Fort Worth, Texas. I surround myself with the most wonderful staff and the kindest patients in the nation. It is our mutual confidence and respect that grants me the freedom to stand nose-to-nose with anyone in the marketplace. I’m blessed. And I like to write.
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