Mercury has no business in the human mouth. So it has no business in dentistry, either.
Still, there are dentists who persist in using this known neurotoxin to restore teeth. Still, the ADA and FDA insist against science that mercury amalgam fillings are “safe.” Still, insurance companies largely refuse to pay for biocompatible composite (white) fillings.
And that’s why every year at this time, we recognize Mercury-Free Dentistry Week – a joint campaign by Consumers for Dental Choice and Dr. Mercola to raise consumer awareness of the problem of amalgam and the promise of a mercury-free future. The more we increase demand for nontoxic dentistry, the more likely we’ll see positive change at the institutional level.
Just think how Big Food has been scrambling since consumer demand pushed for the ouster of trans fats and high fructose corn syrup, the use of whole grains, the absence of antibiotics and GMO ingredients.
Why not make the pro-mercury forces scramble, as well? We can do it. The science is on our side, and with the ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, we have the law on our side, as well. That global mercury treaty requires that steps be taken toward a phase-down of amalgam.
And that’s the first step toward a phase-out.
It starts with education:
- It’s No Myth: Dental Mercury Is a Problem
- Most Americans Agree: You Shouldn’t Call Them “Silver Fillings”
- Dental Amalgams & Alternative Materials
- How Do You Know If You Are Mercury Toxic?
- 10 Questions to Ask a Dentist Before Scheduling to Remove Mercury Fillings
- Handling Mercury Amalgam Is No Laughing Matter
- One of the Most Eco-Friendly Things a Dentist Can Do
To get involved with the fight for a mercury-free future, connect with Consumers for Dental Choice. Their current campaign, Demand Your Choice, specifically targets the insurance companies to change their policies on reimbursement for mercury-free alternatives.
And if you can make a financial contribution to the cause, this is the week to do it. Dr. Mercola will match every donation made by August 28, up to $100,000!