Why are denture adhesives that contain zinc bad?
While zinc is a mineral essential to human life, it is also a heavy metal, much like lead, mercury and arsenic. Because of this, it is poisonous to humans when ingested in dosages above the Recommended Daily Allowance* (for adults) of 8 to 11 milligrams. Zinc becomes even more dangerous when it is ingested without a corresponding dose of copper (roughly 1.5 to 3 milligrams per day for adults), as it can cause copper deficiency (copper is also required for proper human functioning). For untold years, many manufacturers of denture adhesives have made their products with zinc as an ingredient, but without including a balancing amount of copper, or providing any sort of warning label on the package. As a result, many people have suffered from the symptoms of both zinc poisoning and copper deficiency, without ever realizing the source of their ailments.
