Yes, swallowing too much denture adhesive can cause nausea or stomach discomfort.
You get ready for the day by putting in your dentures. Then you settle down for your morning coffee. All of a sudden, your whole body starts to twist, and your stomach is really not feeling well. You’re about to pass out from the sickness. Could this be the result of something you have eaten?
Actually, your breakfast was perfectly fine. The problem may be the denture glue on your gums.
To be very frank, it is quite common for us at Lema Dental Clinic to have patients with an upset stomach, no appetite, and a constant gag reflex who are coming to us from other places in Turkey. They never knew how wrong their daily dental routine was.
Let’s examine in more detail the reason why this glue-like denture cement is making you feel sick. Also, after that, we will learn how this kind of care,e modern treatment,nt can be able to get rid of the problem of the glue completely in a once-and-for-all way.
The Chemistry of Queasiness: Why Glue Upsets Your Stomach
One of man’s natural responses is that we humans try to fix a problem by the method of adding more layers; in this case, using an excessive amount of adhesive if the dentures do not properly fit the patient’s mouth of the patient.
This can be compared metaphorically to taking an old cloth, rolling it, and padding a leg on a loose-standing table to stabilize it. This is a very temporary solution,n and eventually, there would be a big mess after such a quick fix.
In such a case, you have a thick layer of denture adhesive that keeps leaking. It gets mixed with saliva,va and you swallow this glue-like mixture for the rest of the day. The stomach is never meant to deal with such harsh chemicals. This continuous usage leads to stomach disorders in the form of bloating, cramping, and nausea.
The Silent Risk of Too Much Zinc
This type of phenomenon that we witness at the clinic, where the patients are dependent on store-bought products, is that several toothpaste brands make use of zinc to have a strong grip on the dentures. While a little amount of zinc is acceptable, having loose dentures might compel you to use at least half the tube of the toothpaste per week in order to eat food.
Professor Doctor Coşkun Yıldız usually points out that excessive ingestion of paste results in zinc poisoning. Since the toxic effect of zinc on the body is very slow, symptoms usually appear gradually. However, high levels of zinc can cause one’s copper to get drained. Therefore, copper depletion leads to nerve pain, numb hands and feet, and a chronically irritated stomach.
Activation of the Gag Reflex
Different physical reactions are taking place within the mouth. For that reason, the palate of the mouth is a very sensitive area as well. If one uses a very thick upper denture plate, it may press the tongue back towards the throat where the natural gag reflex point is located. Besides, the thick and sticky cement further aggravates the situation.
One of the body’s ways of defending itself is the gag reflex. If you have a feeling in the body as it were choking, you will be able to throw out whatever you swallowed. Therefore, the presence of constant discomfort in the throat is an indication of the body’s defensive measure to protect it from a potential choking hazard.
Breaking the Cycle: Adhesive Dependency vs. Permanent Stability
We will now look at a few facts: Dependence on such types of denture products significantly affects your quality of life through day-to-day comfort. A chart comparison between traditional denture glue and modern, more permanent solutions is given below.
| Clinical Factor | Dermatologically Adhesive | Implant-Supported Dentures (All-on-4) |
| Probability of Feeling Sick | Very High (from glue and zinc being swallowed) | Very Low/Never (no adhesive in a paste form is ever used) |
| Security/Stability | Very Poor; Teeth move when you bite down a big piece of food; | Perfect Stability; Teeth get anchored to the jaws; |
| Palate Support | Covers all areas of the roof of your mouth | Airway and Flavor Free – You can enjoy the taste of your foods |
| Jawbone Health | Jawbone gets worn down due to pressure and lack of stimulation from dentures. | Maintains and strengthens the jawbone |
| Digestive System | The stomach gets sick as a result of constantly drinking the mixture of glue and saliva. | Fresh food gets eaten; no artificial glue is ever used, and thus the body functions properly |
| Daily Routine & Cleanliness | It is a bit messy to apply and remove such a glue | Cleansing and brushing teeth as a natural human being (as if you had your original set of teeth) |
How We Fix the Root Problem in Turkey
However, we must not forget the main question of why we continue using glue that is going into our digestive organs, that is being absorbed as food. If the problem is to keep our stomach in a state where it is not disturbed because of what we are eating, then the only way for that is not to swallow any of the glue.
In Turkey, at our dental clinic, Dentist Polen Akkılıç is a specialist in implantology who is well-known in the dental community. Her team helps patients get rid of the old ways of dentures, which only result in the patient’s continued dependency on a denture adhesive, in other words, a glue mask. We will stop using glues altogether; instead, your old teeth that used to be replaced with false ones will be replaced by new implants.
We insert very durable titanium posts inside the jaw of the patient. Imagine how strong your house would be and how safe if it were built on solid rock. You wouldn’t need a denture adhesive anymore. Your implants will be very stable as they are anchored to your jaw through the tiny holes in your bones.
Moreover, the upper teeth made from implants are very well positioned so there would be no pressure on the roof of your mouth and you will experience the actual flavor of your food. There would be no reason to gag. It will be the last time your stomach gets disturbed.
Common Questions and Answers?
Does my body stop being a source of constant nausea when I stop using the denture glue today?
Yes, if your stomach illness is really a result of swallowing denture glue, stopping denture glue will make your stomach settle down either within two days or a week at the very latest. But at the same time, your teeth will become so loose that you cannot chew anymore.
How would one recognize a state of zinc poisoning after using such paste repeatedly?
Talk to yourself if you are constantly getting sick and have metallic feeling mouth, are tired, or have numb hands and legs. If you have been consuming at least a tube of these paste-like products every other week, you need to see a doctor and get your blood tested.
Should I use a denture glue that is natural and does not upset the digestion?
Our patients ask us a lot about this. Some of them even buy products sold as “natural,” but they don’t help hold the dentures as well as they should. For the most part, only implant-supported dentures offer the feeling of having one’s natural teeth without any of the disadvantages.
Why do I need to stick my denture very much these days, when before I needed just one pack a quarter?
The reason is that over time your bone,ne which used to hold the roots of the teeth, eth gets worn down because there is no stimulation. On the other hand, the plastic denture stays the same size, but your gums slowly disappear until they get completely away from the denture. Thus, you’re constantly in the same hole, which requires you to apply more glue with every passing day.
What can I do to get rid of toothpaste forever?
Get in contact with our dental team in Turkey and share your X-rays via email. Firstly, we will analyze your bone structure. Then we will come back to you, ou giving you an idea of our proposed dental treatment that, once the implant work is through, you will be smiling without needing glues for the rest of your life.
Academic References
- Dhar, V., & Bhatnagar, M. (2018). Physiology of the gag reflex and its management in dentistry. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry, 10(8), e817-e822.
- Hedera, P., et al. (2009). Myelopolyneuropathy and pancytopenia due to copper deficiency and high zinc levels of unknown origin II. The role of zinc-containing denture adhesives. American Journal of Medicine, 122(8), 776-781.
- Nations, S. P., et al. (2008). Denture cream: an unusual source of excess zinc, leading to hypocupremia and neurologic disease. Neurology, 71(9), 639-643.
- Paganini-Hill, A., et al. (2015). Denture use and the risk of gastrointestinal issues in older adults. Journal of Aging Research, 2015, Article ID 901046.
- Polzer, I., et al. (2010). Edentulism as part of the general health problems of elderly adults. International Dental Journal, 60(3), 143-155.
