FDA Finally Warns Against “Silver” Fillings
Moms Against Mercury and countless other consumer advocacy groups fighting to ban
the use of dental amalgam fillings now have cause to celebrate. That’s because after
a decades-long campaign to persuade the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to admit
that such fillings—typically 50% mercury combined with one or more other metals—may
be harmful to your health, a recent lawsuit settlement is forcing the FDA to do
just that. In a move hailed by some as a breakthrough, the new changes (which differ
considerably from the FDA’s previous stance that amalgam fillings showed no evidence
of harm) must be issued by July 2009.
In keeping with the agreement, the FDA is obligated to update its website to include
information about the potential health risks associated with fillings that contain
mercury. Specifically, mercury vapors released from amalgam fillings (often during
chewing or teeth brushing, but also as the result of placement and removal) can
cause significant damage to the brain and nervous system, especially with regard
to developing children and fetuses. Considering that even the dentists who prepare
the amalgam must adhere to a list of safety precautions in order to prevent mercury
vapors from escaping into the environment, many people question why the FDA did
not take action sooner.
Mercury: What You Need to Know
The reality of our increasingly polluted modern world is that people are exposed
to mercury every day. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), potential
health risks related to mercury exposure depend upon several factors, including
the type of mercury to which a person is exposed; the duration and method of exposure;
and the personal characteristics of the individual exposed (i.e. age, overall health).
With regard to the type of mercury, it is important to note that mercury occurs
in one of three distinct forms: methylmercury (the chemical form of mercury), elemental
mercury, and other organic and inorganic mercury compounds. The mercury vapors released
by amalgam fillings represent mercury in its elemental form, and data from the EPA’s
website states that exposure to elemental mercury can cause a host of health problems,
ranging in severity from headaches, mood swings, irritability and tremors to changes
in cognitive function, neuromuscular and nervous system damage, and impaired respiratory
and kidney function. And adults aren’t the only ones who need to worry.
The FDA’s updated warning now expressly states, “Dental amalgams contain mercury,
which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children
and fetuses.”
(http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/amalgams.html) Indeed, mounting
research confirms that the umbilical cord serves as a direct route for toxic substances
to be transported from pregnant women to their unborn children.
A Healthier Alternative
Nowadays there are safer, healthier options when it comes to caring for your teeth.
Although a bit more expensive than their amalgam counterparts, mercury-free composite
fillings are gaining in popularity among health-conscious consumers, and many people
are opting to replace older amalgam fillings with such alternatives. Before making
the switch, or if you’re concerned about mercury exposure, talk to your health practitioner.
He or she may be able to recommend several natural solutions for reducing your overall
exposure to harmful toxic metals such as mercury and get you started on a path toward
better health.
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