What do amalgam and mercury have to do with my oral health?

Most adults who have dental fillings from earlier in life have what are often called “silver” fillings. This type of filling has been used for more than a century, so long that many people consider this the only option for repair. “Silver” fillings are actually amalgam fillings. Amalgam was developed long before the Civil War era as an affordable, long-lasting alternative to gold. Today, more than half of practicing dentists in North America continue to use amalgam as the standard of care.

What is the concern with dental amalgam?

Amalgam dental fillings are concerning to holistic dentists as well as collectives such as the World Health Organization for one reason: mercury. Mercury is the most toxic of all non-radioactive substances on earth, and yet we have made it a practice of placing it in teeth. Within each amalgam filling is about 1,000 milligrams of this highly toxic substance. This equates to 1 million micrograms. The “safe” level of mercury is 1.6 micrograms per kilogram of weight. In Dr. Titania Tong’s view, there is no safe mercury exposure.

Half of the content of an amalgam filling is mercury. In addition to being unaware of the poisonous characteristics of this substance, most people are also not aware that mercury seeps from amalgam fillings twenty-four hours a day. When food is chewed, amalgam heats up and releases even more mercury in the form of vapours. In vapour form, mercury is absorbed by tissues in the mouth and is also inhaled. In various parts of the body, mercury oxidizes and poses a heavy threat to health.

It is the oxidative process that causes the body to age and develop disease by promoting inflammation within blood vessels. This inflammation increases the level of “bad” cholesterol, LDL. One of the signs of mercury toxicity, in fact, is an elevated LDL level and overall cholesterol. Though this is one concern and a potential indicator for toxicity, there are many more concerns related to mercury within amalgam fillings.

Mercury is not processed and eliminated from the body, it accumulates. Built-up mercury promotes an inflammatory response and impedes natural detoxification. When the body cannot adequately process and eliminate toxins, disease occurs. Mercury, in particular, is a neurotoxin and has been linked to conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

The more consumers are gaining an understanding of amalgam and mercury, the more they are choosing healthy alternatives such as BPA-free composite resin for tooth repair.

Contact Dr. Tong and her experienced team in Central Hongkong to learn more about amalgam and mercury and your oral health.