Ill-Fitting Dentures Promote Excessive Denture Cream Use, Leads to Zinc Poisoning

Dallas, TXThe debate over Fixodent denture adhesive and alleged Fixodent zinc poisoning is further complicated by the fact zinc, as a trace element, is part of a healthy diet. However, too much isn't good for you. Thus, denture cream zinc poisoning happens when too much zinc is used.

How much is too much?

That's not an easy question to answer. According to the official Fixodent web site, "the amount of zinc an average denture adhesive user would ingest from daily usage of Fixodent" is less than the amount of zinc contained in most daily multivitamins, or fewer than 6 oysters.

Directions for use refer to applying small strips of Fixodent cream, or a series of 'dots.'

"Hints: you may need to experiment to see what amount of adhesive is best for you. Start with a small amount, then use more if you need more hold."

According to an article published this past April by Natural News.com denture cream users have been known to apply anywhere from six, to 20 times the recommended amount of denture cream every week.
Baylor College of Dentistry's Dr. Charles Wakefield told Dallas / Forth Worth's WFAA-TV in 2007 that the vast majority of people who use over-the-counter denture creams do so because they have poorly fitting dentures, which often means they use much more product than recommended.
Meanwhile there appears to be little information on the Fixodent web site with regard to the potential, harmful effects of too much zinc.

Fixodent links to an online fact sheet published by the Office of Dietary Supplements (an offshoot of the National Institute of Health), that includes a section on the health risks associated with excessive zinc use. However the site does not appear to reference zinc as an ingredient in denture cream.

In this way, seniors may not fully understand the impact of using too much cream and the health issues that could result.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates denture adhesives, which are Class 1 medical devices under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and classified as low-risk. As such, denture creams are not required to list their ingredients on the label.
Manufacturers have said that the vast majority of zinc is not absorbed in the mouth, but remains in the adhesive. However Dr. Wakefield said the mouth's membranes absorb minerals and medicines better than anywhere else in the body. So, it's entirely possible that many people are soaking in more zinc through their gums than they should, opening themselves up to potential denture adhesive zinc poisoning.