Dangerous Zinc Levels in Denture Creams
The Maryland Injury Lawyer Blog has posted an article about the amount of zinc contained in denture creams that can prove to be dangerous.
Zinc isn't hazardous when consumed or absorbed in normal doses... about 40 milligrams a day is average. People who use some brands of denture cream, such as Fixodent and Poligrip, on a daily basis can be exposed to as much as 300 milligrams a day, which leads to a host of medical problems. The zinc is absorbed through the gums, which after daily exposure for a long period of time, can lead to a copper deficiency and progress to anemia.
It can also reduce the function of the immune system. Among the more serious effects are paralysis and nerve damage. Symptoms can include numbness or tingling, and lack of balance. One plaintiff claiming injuries from denture cream, a man from east Texas, can barely walk, and only with support.
There have been eleven lawsuits (so far) against Glaxo Smith Kline and Proctor and Gamble...the companies that produce Poligrip and Fixodent. The suits claim that the companies didn't adequately warn consumers about the possibility of zinc toxicity associated with their products.
The denture cream lawyers generally allege that the denture cream manufacturers failed to appropriately warn consumers about the risks of zinc toxicity. One defense is predictable—the plaintiffs did not use the product in accordance with the instructions. However, that defense lawyers' common argument - blame the victim - ignores the fact that a large portion of the denture-wearing population (34 million Americans) have somewhat ill-fitting dentures...Those people were never warned of the dangers of using denture cream beyond the instructions. From a consumer standpoint, a product that goes in your mouth must be safe to use. Who among us would think of a problem like zinc toxicity from denture cream?
Zinc toxicity can result in permanent and significant injuries, but reducing intake of the mineral may help.
