The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning regarding persulfates — common ingredients in denture cleansers — and has asked manufacturers of denture cleansers to include a warning in the label about their use of persulfates. The ingredients are now known to cause allergic reactions in some users. The agency is also recommending that manufacturers begin searching for viable alternatives to persulfates. The chemicals are used in most denture cleansers to promote the cleaning and bleaching process.
According to the FDA, allergic reactions to persulfates don’t always occur after the first use, and may not occur until after many years of use. Additionally, the symptoms of an allergic reaction may not appear for minutes or even hours after use of the cleansers. Those symptoms may include irritation, tissue damage, rash, hives, gum tenderness, breathing problems, and even low blood pressure.
Adverse reactions to the chemicals tend to be worse among consumers who misuse the products by placing them in their mouths, rather than in a denture container, as intended by manufacturers. According to the FDA, adverse reactions related to this type of misuse may include:
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