What is denture cream neuropathy?
What are the symptoms of denture cream neuropathy?
What are dysesthesias and paresthesias?
Which denture creams have been linked to zinc poisoning?
What warnings have been issued about denture cream?
What is denture cream neuropathy?
Many denture adhesives contain the mineral zinc. Although small amounts of zinc are necessary for a healthy and balanced diet, excessive exposure to zinc can result in copper depletion and neurological injury, including neuropathy. Neuropathy is a disease or abnormality of the nervous system which can result in permanent loss of feeling in the extremities and, in severe cases, permanent disability and paralysis.
What are the symptoms of denture cream neuropathy?
The symptoms of denture cream neuropathy may include:
- Tingling, numbness, burning, or pain in the extremities
- Paralysis or loss of ability to move arms, hands, legs or feet
- Muscular weakness
- Poor balance and coordination
- Abnormal blood pressure and heart rate
- Constipation and bladder dysfunction
- Decrease in walking stride
What are dysesthesias and paresthesias?
In addition to neuropathy, zinc poisoning has been shown to cause other neurological problems such as dysesthesias and paresthesias.
Dysesthesias is a condition in which an unpleasant sensation is produced when a person touches something or is exposed to an external stimulus. Dysesthesias causes patients to feel burning, wetness, itching, electric shock, “pins and needles” and other uncomfortable sensations in their extremities, primarily their hands and feet.
Paresthesias is characterized by feelings of numbness, tingling, pinching, sharp, deep stabs, electric shocks, or buzzing in the arms and legs. While the symptoms of parenthesis are similar to dysesthesias, a patient with paresthesias does not have to come in contact with a stimulus to experience symptoms.
Which denture creams have been linked to zinc poisoning?
Super Poligrip® products manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline and Fixodent® products manufactured by Procter & Gamble have been linked to zinc poisoning.
What warnings have been issued about denture cream?
Just recently, GlaxoSmithKline added a new insert to Super Poligrip warning users that the denture cream contains zinc and that “using excessive amounts of this product over a prolonged period of time has been reported to result in serious health effects from increased zinc intake.” The new insert urges consumers to speak to their doctor before using the denture cream if they are taking daily zinc supplements.
Now, GlaxoSmithKline has announced that it will stop manufacturing and selling denture adhesive creams that contain zinc. The company says it is reformulating the following denture adhesive creams to remove zinc from them: Super Poligrip ‘Original’, Super Poligrip ‘Ultra Fresh’ and Super Poligrip ‘Extra Care’. The company also urges consumers who have been using any of these Super Poligrip products “for several years in greater amounts than directed on the package” to stop using the product and talk to a doctor. You can read more about GlaxoSmithKline’s Super Poligrip consumer advisory on our News page and on our Blog.
For more information about denture cream zinc poisoning, contact us today.
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