Denture adhesive dangers raised

CHICAGO, March 7 (UPI) -- Zinc is used in denture adhesives, so denture wearers are warned to pay special attention to the amount of zinc they consume, U.S. researchers said.

"If a patient wears dentures, it is essential that he or she follows the instructions and recommended dosages on the product label," study co-author J.A. von Fraunhofer said in a statement.

"Many times, patients will overuse the adhesive and, although it happens rarely, they can ingest toxic levels of zinc, with adverse neurologic effects."

Denture wearers are advised that the optimal use of denture adhesive involves placing a thin film or a series of dots across the denture surface, which will ensure that a patient is not overusing the adhesive, von Fraunhofer said.

A single tube of denture should last three to 10 weeks with daily use, although actual usage depends on the number of applications per day and to maintain a proper fit over time, patients should be evaluated by a dentist every six months, von Fraunhofer said.

"With age, your mouth will continue to change as the bone under your denture shrinks or recedes. If the denture doesn't fit correctly, the patient tends to use more adhesive to try to get the denture to stay in place," Manuel A. Cordero, spokesman for the Academy of General Dentistry, said. "Abusing denture adhesive could cause nausea, stomachache and mouth irritation."

The findings are published in the March/April issue of General Dentistry.