The FDA recently changed its tune regarding mercury safety in teeth fillings.  My mother had all her fillings removed around 20 years ago. She drove down to Colorado, spent time and money to have them taken out.

She had came down with an undiagnosed illness around the age of 50. Her symptums where varied, such as digestive problems, exhaustion, pain, sun sensitivity, something like fibromyalgia or lupus… sort of …

So for a couple years she had to lay low, which for her was especially difficult. She was used to working full time, bringing up 2 teenagers. She made the decision that the mercury in her teeth would have to go. She heard about a dentist in Colorado who was taking them out and she went down. She decided to have partials put in which was a very expensive decision. Back then there was not a lot of scientific backing, but she decided it was the right decision.

The good news is that soon after they were removed, she started to feel better and credits the mercury filling extractions as part of the solution to her rebound to a more healthy life. A couple years later, her husband went down to Colorado and had his mercury fillings taken out as well. The bottom line is that sometimes patients have to make decisions that may not fit in with popular medical acceptance.

The FDA’s Web site has changed its statement on amalgam, probably due to the law suit against them. The site previously said that government agencies “have found no scientific studies that demonstrate dental amalgam harms children or adults.“ The website now says that mercury in fillings “may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses.” It also goes on to say that “Pregnant women and persons who may have a health condition that makes them more sensitive to mercury exposure, including individuals with existing high levels of mercury bio burden, should not avoid seeking dental care, but should discuss options with their health practitioner.”

You can go to www.toxicteeth.org for the latest information on this battle with the FDA…..