PoliGrip lawsuit

Have you heard about a PoliGrip lawsuit?

You may have been seeing commercials on television where lawyers are speaking about helping you with your PoliGrip lawsuit. And if you use PoliGrip, you may be wondering what the heck is going on. Well, it turns out that zinc has been an undisclosed ingredient in denture creams. Denture creams are used to help keep dentures in place in your mouth and to make them more comfortable to wear. The makers of PoliGrip haven't been doing anything wrong. Poligrip is considered a class one product by the FDA, because of this, they do not have to list the ingredients of their product.

Zinc is an abundant element which is highly adaptable and has many uses. A small amount of zinc is necessary for a balanced human diet. Zinc can irritate the intestines leading to vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and nausea. It can cause problems with low blood pressure, fever coughing, and leave a metallic taste in your mouth. Excessive zinc intake over a long period of time can ultimately lead to anemia, pancreatic diseases, and decreased levels of HDL, also known as the "good cholesterol." A study has added a new side effect to the list of health problems: neuropathy.

Neuropathy is a condition most common in individuals with diabetes. The symptoms include tingling or numbness of feet, hands, and or legs. The study was looking at individuals who had neuropathy, but did not have diabetes and the purpose of the study was to find a common denominator. Well, there was one, all the participants used denture cream. Zinc is included in the denture creams as an odor blocker and bonding agent. Because the cream goes on the dentures which then go in your mouth. This allows people to swallow some of the cream. Also, the zinc can be absorbed through the gums or skin of the mouth. The FDA does not believe that the amounts of zinc in denture creams are dangerous, but something to consider is what if the person is taking a zinc supplement or eating something else that has a lot of zinc in it or is in some other way exposed to what would be normal levels of zinc. The combination of these could add up to too much zinc in the system.

One complaintant's main hope was that a warning label would be included on the creams that zinc is contained therein so that people could make informed choices. GlaxoSmithKline added zinc-related warning information to their packages of Super PoliGrip in 2009. Proctor and Gamble added a warning to the Fixodent website, but still is not putting a warning on packages as they say their product has less zinc than PoliGrip.

Here is what the warning on the Proctor and Gamble website says:“CAUTION: Contains zinc (less than 4%). Some reports suggest that excessive and prolonged zinc intake may be linked to adverse health effects.” The warning recommends that Fixodent be used as directed and that consumers should consult with their doctors if they are using other zinc-based products.

The most important thing for you to do is to be aware. This site has tried to provide you with information to help keep you informed. Be sure to talk with your doctor and find out what is best for you to do. If you find yourself dealing with problems that you believe may be related to your use of denture creams, be sure to speak with your physician. If he concurs, only you can decide if a lawsuit should be your best course of action.