Excess use of denture cream tied to nerve damage

Loading up on denture cream can be hazardous to your health, new research suggests.

In the medical journal Neurology, Dr. Sharon P. Nations of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and her colleagues report on four denture-wearing patients who developed neurological problems.

All had abnormally high levels of zinc in their blood, accompanied by abnormally low levels of copper. Because denture cream contains zinc, and all of the patients habitually used "extremely large amounts," Nations and her team propose that excess denture cream use led to their neurological problems.

Balance between zinc and copper in the body is essential for neurological health. Taking in too much of one of these trace metals can cause depletion of the other.