Denture cleanser problems lead to FDA warning

Harvey Kirk

By Harvey Kirk
Posted February 26, 2008

ADD YOUR COMMENTS 69

 

Potential Denture Cream Lawsuits are being reviewed for individuals who have used Fixodent or Super Poligrip and suffered from zinc poisoning problems, which could include:

  • Paralysis
  • Numbness, Tingling or Pain in the Hands or Feet
  • Muscle Weakness or Pain
  • Loss of Balance or Difficulty Walking
  • Loss of Sensation

>>REVIEW A POTENTIAL CLAIM<<

Following reports of at least 73 severe reactions to denture cleansers, including one death, the FDA has issued a Public Health Notification and asked the manufacturers to revise the product label and consider changes to the ingredients to reduce the risk of reactions. The denture cleanser problems appear to have been caused by reactions to persulfate, which is a known allergen, and from misuse of the products caused by inadequate warnings from the manufacturers.

>>FDA ALERT: Denture Cleanser Reactions

Denture cleansers, such as Fixodent, Polident and Efferdent, are sold over the counter to help clean and bleach dentures. Most of the cleansers contain the active ingredient pursulfate, which could cause an allergic reaction in some users. The problems could occur soon after use of the denture cleaner begins, or after years of use.

According to the FDA, in addition to the allergic reactions, some of the denture cleanser problems have also been caused by misuse of the product which resulted in patients swallowing the cleanser or gargling it. The warning label does not provide adequate instructions and warnings, which are especially important since many of the users are elderly.  Some of the products even contain mentions that the cleanser contains mouthwash as an ingrediant, however, severe injuries can be caused if the denture cleaner is ingested.

The FDA has asked the makers of Fixodent, Polident, Efferdent and other denture cleansers to modify the product labels to include additional information and warnings about the proper use and to warn about the risks of allergic reactions which could be caused by persulfates. The regulatory agency also asked the manufacturers to consider alternate ingredients to replace persulfate as part of the cleaning and bleaching process.

Symptoms of an allergic reactions to persulfates used in denture cleansers could include:

  • Tissue Damage
  • Rashes, Hies or Irritation
  • Gum Tenderness
  • Breathing Problems
  • Low Blood Pressure

Denture cleanser problems could be caused by the poor instructions and misuse could include:

  • Damage to the esophagus
  • Abdominal Pain
  • Burns
  • Bleaching of tissue
  • Blood in the Urine
  • Internal Bleeding
  • Vomiting
  • Breathing Problems
  • Low Blood Pressure
  • Seizures
  • Death

DENTURE CLEANSER LAWSUITS

The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing the potential for denture cleanser lawsuits for users of Fixodent, Polident, Efferdent or other products, who suffered a severe allergic reaction or injury. If you, a friend or family member have experienced denture cleanser problems, request a free legal consultation.

69 Comments • Add Your Comments

  • Steve says:

    I have earition in my stomick and head ackes and hard time breathing at times,also have a real bad taste of the denture or fixodent adhesive cream.

    Posted on March 18, 2008 at 11:59 pm

  • Lillian says:

    Why don’t the efferdent manufactures have ingredients marked on their product? I’ve been having problems with blisters on the tongue. this reaction is the same that I get when I take sulfa or penicillin. I do not know if efferdent is the culprit. The doctor knows of my problem. I never mentioned to him about efferdent for I always felt this was a safe product (it probably is).

    Posted on June 18, 2008 at 8:49 am

  • karen says:

    I am the wife of a man who has recently had two anaphylactic episodes due to what I suspect might possibly be persulfates in dental cleansers. I have called numerous labs, asked our newly acquired allergists at Eastern Virginia Medical School, the FDA, our Dentists, local dermatologists, LabCorp, etc, and on and on as to “where” my husband could be patch tested for allergies to persulfates and no one seems to have a clue.

    My husband began having a rash on various parts of his body about 9 months ago. About two months ago and the day after a midnight anaphylactic episode, we were in Eastern Virginia Medical School’s Allergy Department beginning the process of testing for the culprit. After another anaphylactic episode followed by my husband’s discovery of a rash on his pallet, I went on line and found that persulfates in Denture Cleansers have recently made the headlines for causing mild to severe reactions in some people. One death has been traced to them. I have read numerous articles about the allergies to persulfates in the Denture Cleansers and have talked to the company of the Denture Cleanser my husband has used ( who admits the persulfates are in their product and that they are soon to put a warning on their Cleanser packaging but even he cannot tell me where my husband can be tested for an allergy to the persulfates)

    The testing done at EVMS turned up that he is allergic to almonds and beef. One might tell my husband to simply stop using the Denture Cleansers, avoid beef and almonds and keep on going. However, since beef is a food that I would like to continue to serve if possible, I would like to rule out the persulfates or “rule in” them since the anaphylactic reaction may have been to a combination of both or persulfates by themselves or whatever. Just avoiding the Dental Cleanser does not bring me peace or satisfaction for many reasons. It is believed also that the persulfates can be absorbed into the dentures so that even avoiding the Cleansers might not solve the problem right away. It is possible that he may need new dentures if he is allergic to persulfates and they have absorbed into the dentures he wears now. We would like to get to the bottom of all this but need to be tested for the persulfates.

    Posted on September 10, 2008 at 10:37 pm

  • Roseann says:

    I am having stomach issues, headaches, problems breathing and a strange taste in my mouth specically my tongue after using Efferdent denture cleanser. I am allergic to sulfa. I am asssuming now that I have read this I am allergic to it also being a perasulfates. Thank you for the article.

    Posted on November 19, 2008 at 11:21 pm

  • Diana says:

    My husband broke out in hives just after Thanksgiving. After his tongue started to swell, we went to Emergency. A shot of pred and pills to take for a few days……one week later, same thing, this time his lip swelled and his nostril. We’ve been scratching our heads trying to figure out what he is allergic to and now, thanks to Karen, we are almost 100% sure we’ve found the culprit….Efferdent Cleanser. My husband is extremely allergic to penicillin…this makes total sense. However, I can’t find anything on the package that lists the ingredients and no warning about allergies!

    This could have potentially caused a great deal of harm….we will probably have to buy new dentures…..

    Posted on January 6, 2009 at 2:42 am

  • M Brophy says:

    i have usedefferdent for approximately 9 yrs. reecently (last 2 mo0nths) i have had numbness in my right hand including little and index fingers.No idea what can cause this. I am left handed

    Posted on January 7, 2009 at 12:04 pm

  • william says:

    I have suffered a lot of ailments over the years and could not get an answer from my doctor on what caused my shortness in breathing, swelling in my feet and legs at first it was thought to be arithritis but diagnosis proved otherwise therefore the only thing that could cause these problems were the use of fixodent and efferdent. I have used this product for at least 30 years I have experience rashes and irritation of the skin and have been treated for these sysptoms to no avail.

    Posted on January 12, 2009 at 8:30 pm

  • Emma says:

    I use the Efferdent Denture Adhesive is there a problem with it? I have been having some muscle pain and have been seen by my doctor for it..Do you think this could cause that along with palpitations, panic attacks,

    Posted on January 13, 2009 at 6:26 pm

  • Bernard says:

    I experienced swelling and tenderness of the gums,sevre headaches, loss of feelings in my hands,nausea and occasional dizziness until I stopped using polident, a product I believed to have been safe but apparently that is not the case.

    Posted on January 17, 2009 at 8:26 am

  • Catherine says:

    i have been having severe stomach problems including IBS, indigestion, cannot digest my food, pains in my stomach that feel like labor pains for the last twenty five to thirty years, i have been using polident denture adhesive power strong hold since i was in my twentys. and i am now fifty four years old. and i just had an endoccospy and i cannot digest my food. I think since 1981 i have been telling my husband that i believe all these stomach problems i have had is because of polident denture adhesive, because i swallowed it as it dissolved because it is like glue.

    Posted on January 25, 2009 at 7:58 pm

  • Mary says:

    I had all my teeth pulled August 13, 2008 and after I could start using Denture Cream to hold in my Temporary Dentures I had the awfullest taste in my mouth and when I would eat it was horrible leaving such a bad taste that I thought my cooking was bad but my live-in said everything was fine and tasted great. That went on till February 13, 2009 when I recieved my Permanent Dentures and now I don’t have to use Denture Cream and my food taste good again…. So I know for sure that it was the Denture Cream that was causing the awful taste….

    Posted on February 21, 2009 at 4:21 pm

  • Carol says:

    I experience soreness and pain in my legs and also in my feet and seemed to have a nervousness in my hands constantly moving them – I have been using polident cream and fixodent cream but they still get loose and each time I eat I must use it but I have noticed these problems. Is there anything that does not have sulfur which I am allergic to? Package does not give warnings out. Half the time I swallow with food which is not good.

    Posted on February 26, 2009 at 12:18 pm

  • domanick says:

    i have been using efferident glue and cleanor for a very long time and i have been diagnosed with diverticolosis,nuropathy,raynuds, i have had blood in my urine,my legs give out sometimes when i walk,i have had a terrible taste in my mouth that last for 2 or 3 days ,sometimes it feels like someone sticking a knife in me and it can happen any where in my body – seems like we need a support group

    Posted on March 4, 2009 at 6:18 pm

  • Connie says:

    I just sent the following to both Polident and to Health Canada…this is ridiculous…

    My 82 yr old mother who lives with me as her memory is failing ate one of her polident tablets this evening and then later while complaining about her sore throat told me about it. After panicing for a second i ran for the box and found absolutely no information on what to do if ingested. For a product whose main users are older this is disgraceful. I am quite upset about this after speaking with someone on the poison control hotline and having them tell me i was not the first person to call in about this. Please do something to remedy this ASAP.

    Posted on March 15, 2009 at 12:50 am

  • John B says:

    I have been using Polident for over 25 years. For the past 10 years I have had upper respiratory problems. The last 5-7 years I have had problems with dizziness, numbness in my legs and feet and losing blood. I have been in the hospital numerous times for transfusions, treatments for breathing difficulties and testing to find out why I am having these problems. So far none of the doctors have been able to find out what has been causing my problems or how to fix them. I am constantly having to hold onto walls, chairs, etc or use a cane to walk around. At one point the doctors did find blood in my stomach but never did find where it was coming from or what to do to stop it. I have pretty much exhausted all options as to finding the cause until I read about the Polident poisoning. It may very well be what has caused my symptoms.

    Posted on March 18, 2009 at 7:25 pm

  • carrie says:

    have been using polident about 9 years. the past several months i have had very severe pain in my right arm and my lesgs . have to really work at it to get myself going in the morning. im a waitress and am thankful i have a job, but worry about is this going to get worse or what will happen to me. i have no med insurance.

    Posted on April 12, 2009 at 6:30 pm

  • Connie says:

    I read the above responses & was shocked to find that I too have experienced the same symptoms & problems, some without explanation, just as others have. I always felt these products were safe to use as I am consistent in keeping my partial clean daily leaving them in container w/cleanser & water overnight. I AM allergic to pennicillin. To name a few: frequent respiratory problems, rash on different parts of my body, nausea, gum tenderness, swollen tongue, (thought I had bitten my tongue in my sleep); blisters on my tongue & inner mouth, problems swallowing food & getting choked, shortness of breath, numbness of legs & arms, severe swelling of legs & feet, being unable to raise right arm to certain height; my children would have to help me get dressed, hands go numb at times, dizziness & severe headaches. I have been given diagnosis on some of these problems but I can’t help but to wonder if using the polident, efferdent & fixodent products could have contributed to my conditions as well. I chose to use them because of the “grip” the super polident had & was pleased to not have my partial sliding out or becoming very loose. I began using these products in 2002 when I had to wear a partial. I am alarmed to hear there is poisining in these products. However I did notice there were no ingredients listed on packaging.

    Posted on May 4, 2009 at 12:01 am

  • Meg says:

    After watching a segment on Good Morning America this morning I am convinced that my balance and foot problems might be caused by Polident Denture Cleaner. I have had problems with my gait and balance since I started wearing dentures.

    Posted on May 5, 2009 at 4:15 pm

  • maggie says:

    I have been using Polident adhesive cream for almost two decades. I have constant pain in my muscles and tissues and constantly drop things and have a loss of coordination. No physician has been able to find any causes for these ailments. I take excellent care of myself, reseaech all before I use or injest anything and I assumed Polident was safe.

    Posted on May 8, 2009 at 10:38 am

  • Meagon says:

    After a visit to the dentist for cleaning, I rinsed my mouth with some Listerine then admistered Fixodent on my upper denture before leaving the office, I immediately felt this terrible burning of my gum; quickly removed the denture, washed it and left. When I looked in my mouth the following morning, there were bruises on my gum. It’s a week today and they are still there. I have used salt water, vaseline, ambesol and hydrogen Peroxide – somewhat better, but the larger bruise is still there. I have to work daily and can only remove my dentures at night. if I don’t use the fixodent, they’ll be very loose.

    Posted on May 15, 2009 at 11:06 am

  • Frank says:

    I have been using Polident adhesive for 15 years and have developed hand tremmors with very poor hand writing. I have talked to my doctor for years about this issue and he has no answers. I wonder could the Polident be linked to my tremmors issue?

    Posted on May 18, 2009 at 11:23 am

  • Ellon says:

    I have been using efferdent cleaner and fixodent glue and polident cleanser for several years and five years ago I ran a unusual high fever one night and the very next morning I woke up and inside my mouth, tongue, nose, lips and left side of my cheek and chin were numb and still is, I have never gotten my feeling back. I have seen doctor after doctor and have had all kinds of test ran and they cant find anything wrong that could cause it. I had seen this advertisement on t.v and thought maybe this could have been the problem.

    Posted on May 19, 2009 at 11:09 pm

  • maria says:

    I have incurred wierd silent cough on a daily basis, breathing problems and am sure this has all come to light since my using these products from March 2008.

    Posted on May 20, 2009 at 2:38 pm

  • Madison says:

    I dont know what to do! my dog ate a few efferdent tablets! wat is guna happen to him!!!

    Posted on May 24, 2009 at 7:15 pm

  • Denise says:

    My Mother Sharon has been using “Fast-teeth”, “fix-a dent” and efferdent since she was 21 yrs old an had to have all her teeth removed. My mom is now 59 and after suffering from mouth and gum sores for years…She now is in a nursing home suffering from frontal lobe dementia, or Picks disease. Could this horrible disease be from these products? She is allergic to the dyes used for MRI etc,,/are these related to sulfu?

    Posted on June 8, 2009 at 7:57 pm

  • CLETHA says:

    BEEN USING POLIDENT CLEANER AND EFFERDENT AND FASTEETH FOR 30 YEARS. NOT WITHOUT PROBLEMS ALL DURING THAT TIME. MOST RECENTLY A YEAR AGO I LOST MY SENSE OF SMELL AND TASTE AND HAVE SEVERE RASH ON MY BACK THAT GOES FROM THERE TO MY ARMS,

    Posted on June 21, 2009 at 6:35 pm

  • Hassie says:

    I have had to have blood transfusions since 95. Started using fixedent. Had lower teeth removed 08, still using fixedent. Just found out about zinc poisoning 2 wks ago. Tested came back positive. I’ve had “all” kinds of problems, from Migrine headaches, stomack surguries, back surgeries, and nerve test. Since before now no Doctor has tested me for zinc poisoning, I have blood transfusions, iron infusions, Vit-B12 shots to keep me going. Also stomack bleeds all time. Hope this will help someone else with their syptoms and don’t let the dr’s make you think it’s all in your head cause it’s not.

    Posted on July 13, 2009 at 11:06 pm

  • Kim says:

    We just found out about this horrible poison. Unfortunately, for us my dad just died and we had no idea what was causing his demise. After he had his teeth pulled 17 years ago, he used fixodent and poligrip every day. His health started to deterioate. First came the dizzy spells and the Dr. said it was his heart. After a couple of years, he was unable to drive and his license was pulled. The VA claimed he had neropathy and his chin bone started to disentegrate, They said it was osteoperosis. He had kidney and bladder failure, problems with his bowels and had to wear diapers. Within 10 years he was walking with a walker when he did walk. Couldn’t feel nerve endings in lower extermities of his body, couldn’t wear bottom dentures, had siezures and run unexplained fevers and vomiting, persistent cough and breathing problems.He had to use special eating utensils because he couldn’t feel or use his fingers. He became wheelchair bound this 2 past years. The VA and now specialist couldn’t explain what was happening. 2 months ago he had a colostomy put on which come to find out opened up cancer cells in his esophogas and stomach. He passed away choking to death last week. I wish we had found out about this sooner so that we could have had blood tests run. He had every sympton that is listed. My mother kept receipts of the fixodent and poligrip purchases because of the VA. He had no allergies to any medications as this was on his navy records, when he was in the hospital for the last time, he was alergic to just about every medication you can name. They couldn’t even give him morphine to ease his death pain. Are we hurt and upset to see this? You friggin bet.. Attorney says nothing we can do because you have to test blood and the zinc runs out of the blood in 24 hours. If that is so, then why is the damage so extensive and untreatable? Too late now for him, but it may not be for others.

    Posted on August 21, 2009 at 9:09 pm

  • Carol says:

    I was told to use Efferdent or something similar (for a retainer), by a nice orthodontist, who probably had no idea of what the ingredients really are, in Efferdent. How could he know, since NO INGREDIENTS ARE LISTED ON THE BOXES OF EFFERDENT, AT SUPERMARKETS, ETC.?!

    I googled “Efferdent”, and found that Johnson & Johnson makes Efferdent. Their phone number is 1-800-223-0182. I called & spoke with a pleasant lady, who FIRST said to me, that there are NO ACTIVE INGREDIENTS in Efferdent.

    Golly. I wonder how Efferdent can kill germs (bacteria) if there are no active ingredients. I think Johnson & Johnson likes to call the ingredients “inactive” to protect themselves from potential law suits, due to bad effects from one or more of the ingredients in Efferdent, etc.

    Due to possible allergies, plus the obvious toxic (poisonous) nature of some of the ingredients, the FDA should REQUIRE manufacturers to list ALL the ingredients on the box, and tell why each ingredient is in there!

    Here is what the lady told me are the ingredients of Efferdent (original formulation):

    Various dyes, called “Blue Blend” (FDC blue #2, green #3, yellow #10 lake, blue #2 lake…)

    EDTA (Ethylene Di-amine Tetra Acetic Acid)–sounds like maybe started out as vinegar (vinegar is a mild solution–watered down acetic acid), but who knows what EDTA really is, after chemically reacting with acetic acid, and adding the “ethylene di-amine” molecules!

    Potassium Mono Per Sulfate (don’t know why this is in there, and I don’t know what it does–will have to google–and apparently from this website’s patient comments, it can be harmful to some.

    Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3), which is baking soda, which contains sodium (heart patients & high blood pressure patients, take note). Also, I’ve decided to forget about buying the Efferdent, and I’ll use baking soda plus water, to gently soak & brush my retainer. I already juse just baking soda, instead of toothpaste, anyway, and rinse with plain well water.

    Sodium lauryl sulfyl acetate–probably a detergent (cleaning agent), as it looks similar to ingredients in other various detergents.

    Sodium per borate mono hydrate (I’m leery of anything containing borate–I think it’s toxic/poisonous)–will have to google, to find out what this stuff does, and how toxic it is.

    Sodium Saccharine (artificial sweetener that can cause cancer)

    Sodium sulfate (NaSO4)

    Tri Sodium Poly Phosphate (have no idea yet, what this stuff is, or why it’s in Efferdent)

    Spearmint flavor (mints, if swallowed, can worsen gastric reflux)

    Teflon (yes, you read that right!). Teflon is TOXIC, and shouldn’t be in one’s mouth!

    Well, now I know WHY J & J won’t list all of this on Efferdent boxes! Looks to me like they are HIDING the identity of all these nasty ingredients!!

    Posted on September 11, 2009 at 1:15 pm

  • Becky says:

    I’m the wife of a husband that has been using these denture cleaners for some time now. He has and still is experiencing muscle pains in the legs to the point of having his Doctor change his meds. thinking possibly the pains were being caused from them. Also having very bad cracking in the knee and pain in the hand.

    Posted on December 2, 2009 at 5:07 pm

  • Gail says:

    have been using efferdent cream for several years, Having some numbness in hands and feet as well as arms with some tingling , has anyone had problems with hair loss? Lots of mussle loss

    Posted on February 2, 2010 at 1:01 am

  • Thomas says:

    I have been using “Polident” in water for years as an overnight soak for my plates. Beginning about 5 years ago I began experiencing soreness in my lower legs & soreness & burning of the feet.Six months ago I noticed my feet & ankles were quite swollen after a day’s activity. I now wear elasticised stockings which do a pretty good job of rectifying that.Walking is a problem for me now as I seem to be somewhat jerky in my gait & my toes are stiff. Doctors I have consulted can’t come up with any answers.I think it best to stop using the Polident & see results.

    Posted on February 21, 2010 at 6:20 pm

  • carl says:

    I HAVE BEEN USING EFFERDENT AND POLIDENT SINCE THE EARLY 80,S.I NOW HAVE NUMBNESS IN MY LEFT ARM, HAND,FINGERS AND LEG. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH TENDERNESS AND PAIN IN THE BOTTOMS OF BOTH FEET THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT AND PAINFULLTO STAND OR WALK AFTER
    AN HOUR OR SO. I WAS FORCED TO SELL MT MEAT AND SEAFOOD MARKET OF 15 YEARS BECAUSE I COULD NOT STAND THE PAIN IN MY FEET ANY LONGER.

    Posted on April 5, 2010 at 4:42 am

  • Tina says:

    My father has been using these products for many many years…and he suffers a LOT of problems and is only 69 yrs old. I would say his primary problem is his stomach. His stomach bothers him a lot. He has also lost a lot of weight and looks bad. He also has had MAJOR muscle weekness and many other problems. He is not one to go to the Dr. He just sits and deals with it. He hates Dr;s. I feel bad for him and until NOW….I had NO idea why he hasn’t been feeling good for a few years.

    Posted on April 10, 2010 at 9:58 am

  • Jill says:

    I bought Polident because my dentist said it was the appropriate way to clean the bite plate he made for me. I began to notice a bitter taste in my mouth that I never had before. Everything I ate and drank tasted bitter. Then I woke up in the middle of the night with my mouth and esophagus burning. It was really frightening. I soon realized it was the bite plate and had to stop using it while I tried to dissolve it out. I still don’t think it is out yet after several months. It’s a shame because it was an expensive bite plate and I never would have used it if I had known it would be permanently tainted with this stuff. I tried to google Polidant to find out what was in it because the box contained no ingredients and found this site very informative.

    Posted on May 11, 2010 at 1:51 pm

  • Bill says:

    I have been using polident cleaner and glue for about 4 or 5 yrs …I have numbness and tingling in both arms and last two fingers on both sides ..am losing my hair rapidly …have developed IBS and have stomach problems all the time ..and the list goes on and on … what can we do ????I will stop using this after I get a blood test …

    Posted on July 8, 2010 at 1:42 pm

  • Norma says:

    I have been using polident for about7 sevears. i have had fatigue nausea and unexplained infections all during this time. I habe not found the cause of this . I have often tripped and fell while just walking along. I am referred to as being clumsy bu my friends because I often become unbalanced and fall for no reason. I have experienced numbness and tinglingg in my extremities. I visited a neurosurgeon and was diagnosed with radial nerve damage in my left arm. We could not narrow down the cause of this damage.

    Posted on August 2, 2010 at 6:20 pm

  • Beulah says:

    I have been using denture creams for at least 10 years, and about 5 years ago I lost my sense of smell. Dont know what it could be linked to. recently I became aware that there is a problem with denture creams. Is there anyone out there who has had unexplained loss of smell. ? I have been to my personal dr. and to a ENT dr, they dont seem to know anything about this. Any comments?

    Posted on December 8, 2010 at 11:31 pm

  • Wendy says:

    I’ve used Efferdet for over 20 years. Unfortunately , I”ve worn a lower partial for about 20 yrs. as well. I’ve suffered foot/leg pain (Burning, tingling, numbness and pain) for about 10 years now. I am extremely healthy for my age. After a visit to my neurologist, i was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy. No medicaine has helped me in all these years. i strongly suspected my pain had something to do with my partial (cleaning it) for all these years.
    Shame on the manufactuers of these products!!!

    Posted on February 8, 2011 at 11:42 pm

  • Irmgard says:

    I have been using Polident cleanser and adhesive cream only occasionally and have stopped now because I realised that this made me loose my sense of Taste, I also lately got real pain in my upper Arms when I try to stretch them. The Docotr could not find any causes for this. I just realise as I stopped using them over about 6 weeks my Taste came back, my Arms are better. Now I have been using Polident adgesive cream again for 1 week and my sense of Taste is gone again. Mt tounge feels numb and tingly, burning sometimes as well. I am 68 years old

    Posted on February 15, 2011 at 10:12 pm

  • ktorg says:

    I am only 50 with no health issues. did not hear about any of this until feb13, 2011 when it happened to me! I had ony been using super poligrip extra care, zinc free for two weeks, sparingly until 2-13 when I had a long all day event and had to use the product three times that day on mostly an empty stomach. The next day, I was unable to walk, sit up or pick up a glass of water. I had severe low blood pressure, dizziness, sharp pain in my upper right thigh. It lasted six hours until I had explosive bloody diahhrea. and then it was over. normal the next day. I do not have health insurance and this scrared me. If this had happened to my parents or someone older with health issues they would have spent thousands in an emergency room..so it is either not the zinc or china put out a bad batch or is subsituting a cheaper compound. two of the ingrediants cause breast cancer anyway.

    Posted on February 18, 2011 at 5:52 pm

  • Myra says:

    After learning about the poisons in denture products I purchased the
    zinc-free from Polident, but I am now wondering if zinc is the only thing we should be worrying about. What did they replace the zinc with? Is it going to be worse?

    I have developed constant burning sensation in my face, especially under cheek bones. My face always feels like I’m terribly sleepy or sunburned or tired. This is not just a sinus problem because it only began after I got dentures and started using the creams and cleansers.

    Another thing I am worried about…my mother got dentures when she was 18. She used these products while pregnant with me and all my siblings. All of us have unexplained health problems all our lives. One of my sisters had such severe leg pains the docs though she might have polio, but it wasn’t. I won’t give all the details of all of our weird health issues, but it seems odd that an entire family would be so unhealthy even after living a life dedicated to eating healthy diets and getting exercise, etc. Does anyone else have any thoughts on the possibility of zinc induced damage to fetus?

    Posted on April 28, 2011 at 1:33 pm

  • Rudy says:

    I had my top dentures for 40 years and my lower for 10. I have been using efferdente and Polydent all this time. I stopped now and I noticed no more numness and itch in my scalp and feet.3 times I had a violent tremor all over my body twice had to go to emergency but they could not find anything. there are other issues which don’t know if related or not, Only know that all these issues were not in my family:

    Posted on August 11, 2011 at 11:54 pm

  • Samm says:

    I have been feeling very unwell for the past few months, muscle pains, nausea, shooting pains in my head, itchy scalp, sore throat and burning tongue. I have been using Fixodent for about 12 weeks now and I have noticed there is a bitter taste on my tongue and the first few things I eat or drink after applying the Fixodent have a strong egg flavour. It doesnt matter what I eat or drink, it always tastes of egg untill I have had a few mouthfuls of food or drink and then its gone. Is this side effects of Fixodent ??

    Posted on August 28, 2011 at 1:41 pm

  • Ronnie says:

    I started wearing partial dentures about a year ago. The upper partial has a large metal plate that forms in the roof of my mouth. I soak my partials in Efferdent each night and in May of this year I found myself barely able to hear people talk. Everyone sounds very mumbled. I went for a hearing test and I was told that I had lost significant hearing in my ears and that my left ear definitely needed a hearing aid. In July I had another significant drop in my hearing and the doctors started searching for a reason. I had a CT Scan, MRI, blood test, etc and the doctors are unable to find the reason for this hearing loss. After reading some of the stories above I fear that the denture cleansers are causing a chemical reaction with the metal on my dentures. Some of you have said your tongues and nostrils have swollen which might be what has happened to some parts of my ears. Lastly, I have also noticed a strong metallic taste on my tongue and on the roof of my mouth when the metal makes contact. That taste never leaves. For those of you who state you lose your balance, ear problems might be a culprit from the denture cleansers.

    Posted on September 4, 2011 at 11:09 pm

  • Mildred says:

    Thank God! It is now 1:30 a.m. I could not sleep so I got up to see if I could figure out WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME! Since July 31, 2011, I have been in the emergency room four or five times; and hospitalized twice. I have had every test imaginable. I was extremely dizzy for two and a half months. I could not function and was afraid to drive my car. I have been to ENT Doctor, neurologist and innumberable ER Doctors and hospitalist (our insurance group employs them for hospital care–you do not see your primary physician while hospitalized) all they have done is give me more PILLS. I could open my own pharmacy! Of course I do not take all of them–but you can bet I paid for all of them! I was so happy when the dizziness went away. But then other problems started. I began to have sores in my mouth under my dentures. I could not chew properly! I have lost so much weight my clothes no longer fit me. I have been getting so nauseated I finally resorted to taking one of my pills for nausea! My eyes are extremely red and very painful. I was told the patches I had to wear for my dizziness was causing dry eye syndrome! I have stopped the patches and my eyes are worse. At the end of July 2011 my niece purchased a box of Polident (at my request to get me some denture cleanser) There was 108 tablets in the box. I now have 90 tablets left! So I have used 90 tablets, I have been ill for approximately 90 days! Something must be done to stop this poisoning of denture wearers. Something must be done to alert the medical profession to recognize the symptoms of this poisioning. Again Thank God.

    Posted on November 10, 2011 at 5:41 am

  • Charles Smith says:

    I have been using Fasteeth powder on my upper dentures for 25 years or more. I started having problems with voice horseness. When I went to doctor and had a biopsy done, I was told it was a hard plaque on my vocal cords. He can”t remove it because it would leave scar tissue that would be worse than my extreme horseness. I’m going for a second opinion and hopefully will have a better solution to my problem. I hope I won’t have to live like this for the rest of my life because of the damage Fasteeth has done.

    Posted on February 29, 2012 at 1:17 pm

  • Trisha says:

    I purchased a new box of Polident dental cleanser and after the first soaking I thought I had a stomach virus. I knew it was from the cleanser because nothing in my morning routine had changed except for putting in my dentures after soaking them in Polident. Now, I’m not even sure if I should soak them in any type of dental clenser. Is there a more natural, safer solution to use?

    Posted on March 19, 2012 at 12:32 pm

  • Dee Dee says:

    i am 47 years old just got an upper partial less than 4 weeks ago, i started cleaning my partial in efferdent and for the past week and a half i have felt like i have a stomach bug, naseau, wash the partial off extremly well after soaking it in the efferdent . The ONLY thing that has changed in my daily life is the use of the efferdent. I kept thinking that I have IBS but now I certain that the efferdent is the culpret.

    Posted on May 8, 2012 at 1:33 pm

  • sueanna says:

    had dentures for 2 yts now the polident i call it glue makes my stomach sick also i have been having really extremley bad headaches im irritated,i feel miserable any help thank you

    Posted on July 3, 2012 at 9:53 pm

  • Simeon says:

    My elderly mother dropped two tablets of efferdent, thinking it was alka seltzer, in a glass of water and drank nearly half of it before I saw that it was a weird blue color and checked the box to find it was efferdent. She seems to be alright bought I am going to have to keep an eye on her all night (poison control said she should be fine). Anyways this is bull that these products look so similar, especially when the majority of efferdent customers are senior citizens. It has a warning on the back of the box but they’re really should be multiple,highly visible, labels on box and the tablet packaging. Plus the picture on the box is very similar to what an Alka-seltzer picture would be like which is why she bought it (she has dentures but does not use this product). Anyways I hope you are working to change this companies negligent labeling.

    Posted on December 16, 2012 at 2:31 am

  • Deborah says:

    I told my dentist I was allergic to sulfa drugs (her health form) but sadly she didnt know or warn me about these allergies!! 6 weeks after getting my full dentures and soaking nightly in Polident, I developed golf ball sized swellings all around my feet & ankles. These would move around and were VERY painful. Very similar to gout. I also had a nasty red rash. After 2 more months with expensive doctor visits and tons of tests, they had no answers. Finally I found this info and stopped the Polident. I was back to normal in a couple weeks. YEAH!!

    Posted on November 24, 2013 at 11:32 am

  • robin says:

    My lips and mouth were so swollen I had to use a dribble cloth when I drank anything. the corners of my moth are still cracked although I can eat and drink now. My tounge is red, cracked and burning. It really feels as if my lips and tounge were burned in a fire. the skin on my lips is stretched and peeling and very dry. I have use efferdent cleanser for years and never had a problem. I have had and still have a red burning rash around my mouth. I just thought I had chapped lips until all of the other symptoms .

    Posted on January 6, 2014 at 8:23 pm

  • lala says:

    just want to say that even though these things have been known since 2008 at least…. have the companies changed the ingredients or directions or box info? i think not… i just saw the other day a box with the words “mouthwash” on it

    hoping someone is making these folks accountable and making them stop poisoning us

    Posted on May 2, 2014 at 11:15 pm

  • Eric says:

    I got my dentures in 08, I started using polident for smokers. Recently in the last few months I have been having problems that aren’t normal for me. I soak my dentures overnight, every night. I have developed problems that the doctors cannot explain. I have bouts of muscle aches and pains, that don’t stay to just one area. I have unexplained headaches, back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, arm pain, leg pain, numbness in my fingers. Right
    now I am dealing with pain in my legs, can’t sleep, can’t get comfortable. I’ve had blood work, for Ra, fibro, myositis, negative. I’m going this week to have blood drawn for Lyme disease and gout. Xrays of my back also. I too have had problems with swollen gums that I can’t put my dentures in, and also problems with sensitivity when eating. I’m beginning to think that it might be the denture cleaner and nothing else. Oh by the way I am only 43, and in generally overall good health.

    Posted on May 22, 2014 at 12:44 am

  • ANNA says:

    Hello,I am new at having dentures but I am using polident tablets to clean my plate and with using it, when I placed and removed the plate from the solution at nite and in the morning I spilled it on my hands and now have blisters.The skin is peeling and forming blister like sores.My hands have tingling with raw spots on fingers and palms.What is up with the taste and dry mouth I am am having???

    Posted on October 12, 2014 at 9:21 pm

  • Rhiannon says:

    I just bought an Up/Up brand of denture cleaner to use to clean my orthodontic retainer. ( Says compare to efferdent). I woke up this morning with a REALLY WEIRD/BAD taste and found 4 discolored patches of what looks like burned tissue on my upper and lower lips where it touched the metal on my retainer. It also made 4 black patches on my gums and a small hole in my tooth. There was some kind of reaction with the metal that has caused several concerning issues. Should I contact the doctor or the company? I don’t want something like this to lead to more damage or cancer!!

    Posted on January 5, 2015 at 10:52 pm

  • Care says:

    I am 44 years old amd have been trying to get a snap on denture placed for over a year. Everytime i place the denture in my mouth I get dizzy, if i leave it in my mouth my blood pressure drops.
    The dentist has done 3 dentures in the last 12 momths. The second one, where they placed the soft reliner in, was the worste. I ended up in the emergency room. Am I ever going to have teeth again?

    Posted on April 2, 2015 at 11:34 am

  • nancy says:

    My health is getting worse every day .without answers .siezures .migrains you name it I got it.

    Posted on April 24, 2015 at 4:38 pm

  • Rosetta says:

    I’m 39 still young an have my awesome kids to still raise an hope to have a long life ahead of me but beginning to wonder ! Due to a car wreck years ago I have upper an lower plates an because i can’t get my bottom plates to fit right I use three different types of denture creams an also powder an strips an stay so constipated that not even laxatives help an stomach pain like you wouldn’t believe an bad headache s all the time , dizziness, blurred vision , nothing taste good , constantly have a bad taste in my mouth , joint pain , neck pain that is unbearable , nervous twitching, the list goes on ! This Is so not fair !

    Posted on June 1, 2015 at 7:02 pm

  • Michael says:

    I added comment, but did not seemail toget received.So here goes a short one. FDA NEEDS TO have corporation not consider changing ingredients, but “TO” “change” ingredients to something, really truly, not toxcit, ie. Proven… yes…proven…NOT to be poisoning to any living creature particular the humans who use the product,” before ” its’ put into production.

    Posted on July 18, 2015 at 11:17 pm

  • Angelia says:

    I am a 45 year old female. Never had rashes or joint pain in my hands and feet.But since I got my new dentures and started using Efferdent cleaner for my dentures and poly grip and Fixodent adhesive for my dentures . i just got my dentures in May 2015 and it is only October. Now I am having bad rashes on my face tingling and numbness in my arms and legs and this awful taste in my mouth even when my dentures or the cream is not in my mouth. I could not get into my doctor right away I had to make an appointment. So ask My local pharmacist what I can do in the meantime he suggested using some hydrocortisone cream. That it was probably just a simple rash or allergy to something. I told him I’m also having joint in my hands he said it may be something more serious to contact your primary care doctor Which I have done. I have an appointment to see her tomorrow I’m hoping to see results and see what she has to tell me.

    Posted on October 27, 2015 at 12:28 pm

  • Sherry says:

    I was just wondering about this cause I have been having problems for 4 to 5 years now with my foot. I have now foot drop but my doctors can’t figure out why. I have been to 2 neurologist and my last appointment he said I didn’t need to come back unless something changed but they couldn’t figure out why I have foot drop. I’m only 44 now and have dealt with this for awhile im so tired of this. But please let me know if maybe this could be why. I to used pollident and efferent for my flipper

    Posted on November 17, 2015 at 2:27 pm

  • Emilea says:

    I have had dentures now since jan, been using these denture creams and have experienced terrible mouth burning and tounge burn the inside OG my mouth is raw, feels almost like thrush but it’s not thrush and without the denture cream I can’t eat… so what do u do..

    Posted on March 25, 2017 at 9:07 pm

  • annie says:

    Hello:

    I have been using Fix dent and other denture creams my tongue been burning and cracking causing and red.
    I went to the doctor and the doctor said there was nothing abnormal in my mouth. I am so upset I have been having burning on the outside of my mouth and etc. I have no other way to hold the dentures in my mouth.
    THEY SHOULD HAVE ON THE DENTURE CREAM WHAT ALL IT COULD DO TO YOU. A PERSON THINK ITS HARMLESS AND JUST TO KNOW ITS DANGEROUS.

    Posted on August 22, 2019 at 9:49 pm

  • William says:

    I went to the ER and Dr. for months with pins and needles feeling, loss of balance, problems concentrating, and nausea. I missed work a lot and had lots of tests, from blood work to mri’s and they thought was neurological problems but couldn’t find anything. I quit drinking beer cause I thought that was the problem. It wasn’t until I ran out of my denture cleaner that I put it together of what was causing it. Persulfates is a known allergen isn’t enough of a warning to put on the products, symptoms do not always mimic an allergy!

    Posted on July 18, 2020 at 11:21 am

  • Sharon says:

    I am a 50 y/o female who in March was given my permanent dentures. The facility also gave me a sample of polident. Around this same time I began having severe problems breathing. I am allergic to penicillin but the package do not warn this was a problem. I made no connection. I recently ran out of the samples and bought efferedent because it was cheaper, after 3-4 days I had a mouth full of sores and could not wear my dentures for several days. During this time I experienced no problems breathing. I was investigating what could have caused the sores and found this page. Now I’m wondering if I almost died twice because I was told to use this product to clean my dentures. My breathing is getting better everyday and I only use baking soda on my dentures. I’m surprised more people have not died, or maybe they have.

    Posted on March 28, 2021 at 10:32 am

  • Kaylan says:

    I suddenly began having high anxiety and heart palpitations. I just started using the efferdent. That’s the only thing different in my life! When I take out my retainers I notice I begin to calm down. Will be switching to just soaking in baking soda. Chemicals in everything these days smh

    Posted on May 23, 2023 at 9:28 am

  • joseph says:

    I have been using the denture cleaners for approx 10 months now. Some time soon after I notice a change in my ability re bowel movements. In addition I developed a cough that has lingered even though my Dr put me on antibiotics twice. the results are not promising or significant from a positive respect. Lately I am developing stomach difficulties that made me focus in on the ise of these products.
    I am an 82 year old male in relatively decent shape in all respects. Should I sdiscotinue the use of cleaners and try some thing? Do you have any recommendtions for this?

    Posted on June 7, 2024 at 9:56 am

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