“I only have one.”
“You have to get it out,” I told my researcher, K.D.
He had come across a new study that shows one of the biggest sources of mercury in the environment is dental mercury.
Almost half a ton of mercury makes it into surface and ground water every year just from the dentists who use it. And that’s after it’s been filtered through traps and public water systems.
He wondered if his filling was mercury. I took a look and told him it’s definitely amalgam. That’s the dental industry’s name for mercury fillings. They’re an amalgamation of silver and mercury, plus a few other metals.
Relatively few dentists have switched to using mercury-free fillings even though the government supports phasing them out. In fact, the American Dental Associated put a gag order on dentists not to talk about the fact that they’re still using the half-silver-half-mercury fillings.
Just talk to a mainstream dentist and they usually get visibly angry when you ask them about using anything other than amalgam. But putting mercury in your mouth is dangerous. We know for a fact that mercury in fillings can harm you.
The Four Ways We Know Mercury Fillings Are Toxic:
- You see mercury vapor: Using sensors, you can see mercury vapor in the breath of people who have mercury fillings. 80% of the vapor goes into your body. In fact, the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology has a video called “Smoking Teeth” where they show mercury vapor coming from a filling extracted 25 years ago.
- No amount of mercury is safe: The EPA considers a half a miligram of mercury a small hazardous spill. By comparison, amalgam fillings can release that much mercury into your body every month.
- Amalgam fillings are hazardous waste: The government has amalgam and dental mercury on its list of materials that require special handling. When these fillings are removed, there are strict regulations applied to its storage, handling and disposal.
- Amalgam fillings degrade: We know that when they take out mercury fillings, there’s less material there than when they were put in. The metal has to have gone somewhere, and that’s into you. And mercury is fat-soluble, so it can go in every cell, and your brain.
Corrosion caused by chewing or grinding can increase the mercury vapor released from your fillings. So can drinking hot liquids. Old fillings are prone to corrosion by acidic foods or saliva. Many adults have fillings from childhood that fit this profile.
If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, go to a mirror right now and look inside of your mouth. You will be able to identify mercury amalgams because they look like a piece of metal.
If you have one that looks that way, they probably called it a “silver filling.” But don’t be fooled because silver fillings are 50% mercury.
If you see any of these fillings, here’s what I want you to do:
- Have them removed: Be sure to use a dentist trained in their removal and not just any cosmetic dentist. Fortunately, the Internet is a great tool for this. The best website that I’ve ever found is the site for the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology atiaomt .org. There are news stories, links, educational videos and tools for finding amalgam-free dentists.
Another one I like is dentalwellness4u.com. You can find a list mercury-free dentists there, and lots of research and testimonials. I also like mercuryfreedentists.com, which lists these dentists by state for easy reference. Toxicteeth.org is another site with news and studies about how amalgam harms your teeth and body.
- Don’t rush it: If you feel like that’s a lot of dental work at once, take your time. Space your appointments several weeks apart. Plus, too many removed at one time can expose you to excess levels of mercury. This is exactly what you don’t want, and why you need a trained dentist. They will limit the amount of mercury vapor emitted during removal, and take the proper precautions.
If you looked in the mirror and you’re one of the lucky few who have patches of white, then there’s nothing you need to do. They are probably going to be porcelain, which an inert compound that doesn’t interact with your physiology and doesn’t spill poisons into your blood every day.
If you need a filling in the future, remember:
- Insist on one of the non-mercury alternatives for any new fillings. There are new materials available that are safe. The best are bonded resin ceramics. Mercury proponents insist that their bonding ability is much lower than that of traditional silver amalgams. But what you trade off in bonding ability, you make up for in biocompatibility. They are tooth colored so your smile will look better too.
1. Vandeven J, Mcginnis S. “An Assessment of Mercury in the Form of Amalgam in Dental Wastewater in the United States.” Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 2005;Volume 164, Numbers 1-4, 349-366.
2. Mercury Releases and Spills.” EPA. www.epa.gov/hg/spills. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
3. Risher J. “Elemental Mercury And Inorganic Mercury Compounds: Human Health Aspects.” WHO. www.who.int. Retrieved May 21, 2012.