Overuse of denture cream with zinc sparks lawsuits claiming nerve damage

9/18/2009

MIAMI — People around the country who used excessive amounts of denture cream are claiming in lawsuits that zinc in the products caused serious nerve damage.

The lawsuits against consumer products giants Procter & Gamble and GlaxoSmithKline are being consolidated in Miami federal court. The denture wearers claim the creams were defective and want millions of dollars in damages.

The companies contend their products are perfectly safe when used as directed. No warnings have been issued by the Food and Drug Administration regarding zinc in denture cream.

But scientists have reported that using too much denture cream with zinc may cause nerve damage because it robs the body of copper.

A pretrial hearing in the cases is set in October.