Last updated on May 16th, 2022 at 12:32 pm
The day I had my amalgam fillings removed (in conjunction with cavitation surgery) brought me so much relief. I never really realized the impact that these dental components had on my health, and how they had been hindering me from healing completely.
It is funny how these things work, who would’ve thought that two dental procedures one fifteen years ago and the other eight years ago would’ve been the catalysts for my decade-long struggles with my health.
This post will specifically focus on the amalgam filling portion of my procedure.
I never had any cavities as a child and made it a couple of years into the standard American lifestyle when the need for two fillings arose. I was about 23 and 24, thinking about it I got my first filling while pregnant (it makes me cringe – but when you know better you do better,) and the next a few months after the birth.
I was never given any options, the amalgams were placed as the norm, and I was sent on my way, never making the connection or realizing that this small little dental procedure would be the final catalyst for a decade of health issues and emotional despair.
The thing is oral health is connected to the entire body. Our teeth are connected to our organ systems through meridian pathways, and therefore our teeth can’t be treated in isolation – but this is unfortunately how conventional dentistry operates. This meridian tooth chart can come in so handy when taking control of your health. Mine 100% correlated with my health struggles.
The amalgam filling topic is extremely controversial among dental communities. The main arguments seem to take place between the American Dental Association and The International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology.
After my research and own personal experience, I am frustrated and angry that this practice is even legal – it is criminal. I personally fall in the camp that the ADA and FDA are covering up that amalgam fillings are toxic. Why? Because if the truth about the mercury and its real toxicity came out there would be a lot of money lost and a lot of legal action going down.
On 24 September 2020, the FDA finally issued a press release (very quietly) calling for the avoidance of amalgam fillings in pregnant women, women planning to get pregnant, nursing mothers, children, and people with neurological disease. Yet, many conventional dentists still ignore it, because let’s face it, it is only a recommendation, not a rule, and amalgam fillings are cheap, probably with a large profit margin.
Amalgam fillings are made up of about 52% mercury and the rest a mixture of silver, tin, and copper. The fact that these fillings are 52% mercury should be alarming since anything above 0 parts per billion (ppb) is considered toxic – not to mention the dangers of off-gassing, and the consequences of not having them properly removed.
“About 75 percent of adults have dangerous “silver” fillings. There is approximately 1,000 mg of mercury in the typical “silver” filling. This is nearly one million times more mercury than is present in contaminated seafood. Most people don’t realize that mercury amalgams slowly release mercury vapor. Every time you chew, mercury vapor is released and quickly finds its way into your bloodstream, where it causes oxidative processes in your tissues. Oxidation is one of the main reasons you develop the disease, as well as the primary reason you age. Oxidation in your body leads to inflammation… it also hampers your body’s ability to detoxify itself, which makes you even sicker.” (source)
If you’d like a little amalgam history lesson, you can learn more here.
Common symptoms of mercury poisoning include:
**this is not an extensive list.
Mental and neurological symptoms
♦ inability to concentrate
♦ insomnia
♦ dizziness
♦ migraines or headaches
♦ forgetfulness
♦ emotional instability
♦ anxiety
♦ nervousness
♦ panic attacks
♦ exaggerated response to stimuli
♦ tremors
♦ vision problems
♦ numbness
♦ loss of self-confidence
♦ facial paralysis
♦ depression
♦ mood swings
♦ suicidal tendencies
Oral cavity symptoms
♦ bleeding gums
♦ metallic taste
♦ excessive saliva
♦ ulcers in the mouth
♦ gingivitis
♦ periodontal infections
Eye and ear symptoms
♦ glaucoma
♦ restricted or dim vision
♦ vertigo
♦ tinnitus
Respiratory symptoms
♦ persistent cough
♦ shallow or irregular breathing
♦ asthma
♦ inflammation of the upper airway
Gastrointestinal symptoms
♦ yeast overgrowth
♦ leaky gut
♦ food sensitivities
♦ indigestion
♦ mal-absorption
♦ constipation
♦ diarrhea
♦ cramps
♦ colitis or chron’s disease
Reproductive symptoms
♦ lack of sperm mobility
♦ toxic sperm
♦ endometriosis
♦ PMS
♦ infertility
♦ miscarriage
♦ loss of sex drive
♦ poor sexual performance
♦ birth defects
Cardiovascular symptoms
♦ irregular heartbeats
♦ heart palpitations
♦ rapid heartbeat
♦ irregular pulse
♦ high or irregular blood pressure
♦ pain or pressure in the chest
♦ cholesterol damage
How does mercury affect the
Endocrine system
♦ Mercury concentrates in the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, resulting in mood disorders such as mood disorders, depression, and the disruption of the entire neuroendocrine system.
♦ The adrenal glands are adversely affected, adding to stress levels and the depletion of vitamin C.
♦ Mercury affects the ovaries with problems of infertility.
Bone and connective tissue
♦ Mercury tends to damage the jawbone, making it more likely to become diseased and more likely to lose teeth.
♦ Damages collagen.
♦ Harms bones and connective tissue.
♦ Speeds up the aging process.
Cardiovascular system and the blood
♦ Mercury interferes with the porphyrin pathways, which interferes with hemoglobin production, and hemoglobin is necessary for oxygen distribution throughout the body.
♦ Interferes with energy production in the mitochondria.
♦ Causes red blood cells to stick together.
♦ Can cause abnormalities in white blood cell counts.
♦ Causes sluggish lymph flow, which then leads to the lymph vessels being clogged.
Immune system
♦ Mercury weakens the immune system by depleting vitamin C, selenium, and antioxidants like glutathione.
♦ Mercury damages aspects of both the innate and adaptive immune systems.
♦ It can cross over the blood-brain barrier and overly activate and stimulate the brain’s immune cells.
♦ Mercury in the body can increase vulnerability to cold, flu, and other infections.
♦ It can interfere with the oxygenation of tissues and therefore promote fungal infections.
♦ Contributes to all allergic disorders.
♦ Contributes to all autoimmune conditions.
♦ Can make it more difficult to overcome bacterial, viral, fungal, or mycobacterial infections.
Here is another chart on health-related symptoms and their relation to amalgam dental fillings.
What nutrients does mercury deplete?
♦ vitamin C
♦ b vitamins
♦ magnesium
♦ zinc
♦ selenium
♦ glutathione
The mercury used in amalgam fillings is actually considered a hazardous toxic material once it is removed from the mouth, and it is common knowledge that dental staff has to dispose of it properly. This begs the question, that when it is in your mouth it is totally harmless, but mere seconds after removal it becomes toxic hazardous waste?
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) reports that approximately 5.1 tons of mercury are released into the publicly owned treatment works (our water systems) and that the mercury is then subsequently released into the environment. Even the WHO (World Health Organization) in all their circus glory confirms the harms of mercury exposure.
After hours and hours of research and reading numerous books and scientific papers on the topic of oral, and listening to hours of audios like podcasts, youtube, and other documentaries, I decided that I wanted my amalgams removed.
The thing is I was having severe symptoms of mercury toxicity but never made the connections, no medical professional ever took me seriously, and acted like it was all my head. I am writing this today, to encourage you, that if you have amalgam fillings and your health is declining (deep down you know something is wrong) but everyone dismisses it, please research this topic, dig deeper, and educate yourself. You can start here.
** Also search for the interview videos of Dr. Mercola and Dr. David Simone – it is a 5-part series.
Before you get your amalgams removed here are some important things to consider
Is the dentist properly trained to safely remove amalgam fillings?
I always recommend using the following websites to search for biologically trained dentists who are also SMART certified (Safe Mercury Amalgam Removal Technique.)
♦ International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology
♦ International Academy of Biological Dentistry and Medicine
♦ Dental Amalgam Mercury Solutions
♦ Consumers for Dental Choice
Keep in mind that the closest dentist may be a couple of hours away, but I think it is worth the drive, in fact – we drove about six hours each way. I would do it all over again, knowing that I will be well when I walk out the door.
Once you find a dentist you think may be a good fit, call their office and talk to them, ask them questions, get to know them, and also ask them what precautions they take during amalgam removals.
Just because a dentist may say he/she is “holistic” doesn’t necessarily mean that they will align with your treatment desires. It is so important to talk about precautions if they are SMART certified, and what plans they have in place for your safety as well as the safety of their staff.
♦ a rubber dam should isolate the tooth with a thin piece of latex, this prevents the particles of the toxic metal that is being drilled out from mixing with saliva, being absorbed into the gums, or swallowed.
♦ oxygen for the patient is a must because this reduces the inhalation of airborne particles.
♦ the dentist should take the time to remove the amalgam filling in chunks, and only use the drill as much as absolutely necessary.
♦ they should use both low and high-speed drills when removing the last bits of the amalgam from the tooth, this helps to minimize the risk of killing the tooth.
♦ the dental hygienist who is assisting the procedure should spray on the tooth throughout the procedure to keep the tooth cool.
♦ a vacuum to tap the toxic metal particles.
♦ the dentist and dental hygienist must wear proper masks to protect them from mercury vapor.
♦ glasses for the dentist, dental hygenist, and the patient.
♦ a well-ventilated office with a vacuum hose to draw the mercury vapor and all the particles away from the patient and staff.
♦ proper disposal of the removed mercury.
♦ an amalgam separator to protect the publicly owned treatment works.
Talk to your dentist about the dental materials they will be using.
What material will they use to fill the tooth back up, to create a crown or inlay, will you be sedated? if so what kind of anesthetic. etc.
Ask about the price of the procedure and see how much your insurance will cover.
I paid for my procedure out of pocket, but I encourage you to talk to your insurance company and see what they will be willing to cover. Unfortunately, this procedure isn’t cheap, but it is worth it to save up.
Advocate for yourself, I am fully aware that in today’s society it is not the norm to walk into any medical establishment and ask all the questions, but don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself.
I learned from my experience that biological trained and even just holistic dentists are used to this, they actually welcome the questions and love to share and talk about the tremendous strides they are personally making in their industry.
How to detox after the amalgam filling removal?
It is extremely important to take the time and effort to do a dental detox after amalgam removal even when your dentist is biologically trained because some of the vapors and particles can still enter the body despite all the effort for safety being made.
Using the right supplemental protocol as well as eating a nutrient-dense diet can support the body to quickly and effectively eliminate all the toxins and heavy metals so they don’t take up residence in the tissues and cause major problems down the line.
There is a simple 6-month detox protocol by Dr. Louisa Williams.
* I started out with this protocol but ended up switching to the Cellcore Biosciences Foundation Protocol (with vitamin C, beef liver, and magnesium supplementation on the side) and saw tremendous results. I will still leave this protocol up, so you have choices.
** I love Smidge Morning and Evening Magnesium (available on my Fullscript dispensary), as well as this liquid form.
Pure Radiance C
This is a non-GMO, whole food source vitamin C derived from organic wild berries. Vitamin C acts as a very powerful antioxidant for the body during detoxification.
BioSuperFood F1
This supplement contains spirulina and microalgae which are powerful immune supporters.
Quinton Hypertonic
Beautiful vials of deep seawater that help replenish minerals and electrolytes displaced by the amalgam fillings.
Organic Sulfur
Sulfur simply helps to enhance mercury detoxification from the body.
Cilantro Essential Oil
Cilantro is known for supporting the removal of heavy metals from the body.
*Instructions for ordering supplements will be at the bottom of this post.
Nutrition during the dental detox
It is quite simple. Your diet should be free of all processed foods, artificial sweeteners, junk food, and highly processed vegetable oils and you should limit alcohol consumption. Focus on eating nutrient-dense real whole foods: organic fruits and vegetables, pastured meats, organ meats (like beef liver) and eggs, raw dairy, fermented foods, properly prepared grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes, and healthy fats. Drink plenty of filtered water with added minerals.
Other detoxification supportive therapies.
♦ Oil Pulling
♦ Castor Oil Packs
♦ Near-Infrared Sauna (this is the at-home one I have)
♦ Coffee Enemas
♦ Epsom Salt + Baking Soda Baths
♦ Dry brushing
♦ Rebounding
I truly hope that this post will be helpful in encouraging you to take control of your health, dig deeper, and find the missing pieces of your puzzle.
If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below, and I will try my best to answer them.
*I have two“amalgam” as well as a “dental healing” highlights on my Instagram.
** My biological dentist is Dr. Candance Owens from Healthy Smiles for Live in Marble Falls. She is the best!
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
To order practitioner and therapeutic grade supplements visit my Fullscript + Wellevate dispensaries for an automatic 10% off all orders.
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To order Cellcore Biosciences supplements use my patient/client code “qkXw9J2T” and email me after you open your account. I’ll be happy to activate a 10% off for all your future orders.
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Use code “NURTUREMEWILD” at checkout to save 10% off your entire first order over at Perfect Supplements!
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Use code “NURTUREMEWILD” at checkout to save 10% off your entire first order over at Live Pristine!
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I personally use DoTerra essential oils. If you’d like to purchase essential oils at wholesale prices, click here or email me here if you have any questions or would like more information.
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