The Dangerous Ingredient in Denture Cream

Zinc is an essential mineral. Zinc deficiency affects about two billion people in the developing world and is related to many diseases and contributes to the death of as many  of 800,000 children globally per year. Enzymes with a zinc atom in the reactive center are common in biochemical pathways, such as alcohol dehydrogenase in humans. This is why you see zinc everywhere - in vitamins, toothpaste, mouthwash, and lozenges. It’s even found in dental cements used by dentists.

But just as too little zinc is bad for the body, so is too much zinc. Consumption of excess zinc can cause neurological issues, extreme fatigue and a deficiency of  copper in the  human body.

When zinc enters the blood stream, it can interfere with the action of enzymes that control almost all aspects of metabolism and cell function. Too much zinc can lead to copper deficiencies as well as cause neurological problems.

Many patients have been exposed to 200 times the recommended daily allowance simply by using denture creams. Zinc has even been found to deaden your sense of smell, by way of the swabs for your nose to cure cold symptoms.

The estimated daily amount of zinc exposure from the use of dental adhesive, depending on how much you use, equals around 400 to 1700 milligrams of zinc a day, most of which is absorbed through the tissue on the roof of your mouth. Compare that to the daily recommended allowance of zinc of 11 milligrams per day for men and 8 milligrams for women. So the zinc exposure from dental creams is clearly excessive and a cause for concern.

Here are two things you can do immediately to reduce your exposure to zinc. First, go see your dentist for a new reline of your dentures. A dental student is taught in dental school that denture adhesive is not necessary if the denture is properly designed and fabricated. Most dentures do not fit perfectly because the gums and jawbone that support the denture are constantly in a state of flux. The adhesive, if properly applied, makes up for this discrepancy.

I recommend relining your dentures every 2 to 3 years. It's a small price to pay to avoid the alternative, which is increased bone loss, changes to your facial profile or zinc poisoning.

Second, start using some of the newer zinc free adhesives that are just appearing on the market. It pays to know what becomes between you and your dentures.

So to sum things up, make sure you’re getting enough zinc. But, when it comes to your dentures, get the zinc out!

Another thing to be aware of if you wear dentures is how to clean them safely. Denture cleansers such as Polident and Efferdent contain a dangerous ingredient called persulfate, which can cause allergic reactions and hasten the aging process of the tissues of the mouth. You can read about persulfate and how to clean your dentures safely here.

For oral health updates and advice from Mark Burhenne DDS, "like" Ask the Dentist on Facebook here.