Because denture creams are classified as Class I medical devices by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), manufacturers are not required to list the products’ ingredients on packaging.
Fixodent products aid in both adhesion and in the reduction of odor.
While zinc is an essential mineral necessary, in small amounts, for normal bodily function, excessive amounts absorbed by the body can lead to the purging of too much copper, which is necessary to maintain healthy brain and nervous system function.
Insufficient copper can in turn lead to neuropathy, a serious disorder affecting the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord. Neuropathy can lead to permanent disability, and even death.
When studies linking excessive zinc to nerve damage were published, P&G disclosed that Fixodent did, in fact, contain zinc.
Reportedly, despite the filing of lawsuits by injured consumers, P&G merely added a warning to its Web site, while its competitors included a warning with their products’ packaging.
