While part 1 of our 2 part series on dental risk factors explores cavitations, abscesses, and root canals, part 2 explores amalgam fillings, mercury, metal implants, clenching/grinding and oral care including oil pulling, rinsing, brushing, flossing, and fluoride.
Amalgam Fillings
Heavy metals and silver amalgam dental fillings are linked to a weakened immune system. Amalgam fillings are comprised of approximately 50% mercury, which can slowly bleed out of the fillings, concentrating in the liver, kidneys, brain, and other glands and detrimentally impacting our health and well being.
Roughly 25% of the mercury in amalgam fillings can bleed out in the first five years, and the mercury vapor level in a mouth with amalgams can be 54 times higher than that in a mouth without amalgams. Mercury is considered second only to radioactive plutonium on the toxic scale of heavy metals.
One of The Thermogrm Center clients reports that while her husband had suffered significantly worsening healing loss for many years, his hearing returned after his amalgam fillings were removed.
They had no idea that amalgam fillings could have contributed to hearing loss.
Sources of Mercury
There are many other sources of mercury besides amalgam fillings. Did you know that fish are often high in mercury? They’re actually a controlled substance in grade schools, which are required to limit the number of servings of tuna due to its high mercury levels.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, the risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is not a health concern for most people. However they advise women who may be pregnant, pregnant women, and young children to avoid some types of fish and to eat fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury:
Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish, which contain high levels of mercury.
Eat no more than 12 ounces per week of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury: shrimp, canned light tuna (not albacore tuna), salmon, pollock, and catfish.
Consult local authorities or the Environmental Protection Agency for advisories on contaminated or polluted fishing areas and about the safety of fish from local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas.
For more information on mercury, consider the Environmental Working Group, and the Audobon Society.
Chelating Mercury
While the herb cilantro helps the body to eliminate mercury, some natural health professionals prescribe cilantro oil protocols while some may prescribe oral and intravenous chelating protocols, ie DMSA or EDTA and binding agents. (Consider Google for more information.)
Chelating refers to a substance that binds with, say a heavy metal, to neutralize its bad effect on the body and to facilitate the body’s ability to eliminate it. Since not everyone with amalgam fillings has unstable mercury in their fillings or mercury that needs to be chelated, and since ingesting too much cilantro can cause digestive symptoms, please consult with a qualified healthcare provider when considering the need for chelation and the technique that is right for you.
Metals and Dental Implants
Metal in the mouth can act like an antennae for electromagnetic and radio frequency radiation, triggering a defense response from the body and altering your own electro/galvanic currents, especially when there is more than one kind of metal, i.e. gold crown and amalgam fillings. Consider Cell Phones and Metal Implants Don’t Mix.
As an alternative, consider fillings made of bio-compatible composites (made of plastics, ceramics and resins). Some holistic biological dentists provide safe amalgam removal and material biocompatibility testing to learn what material(s) is/(are) most compatible with your body.
Also, consider non-metallic zirconia: crowns and implants. Some people consider removable dentures, partial dentures and flippers to replace missing teeth.
For mercury-free, holistic, biological dentists, consider Tirza’s Preferred BioDentists, particularly Dr. Carmen Burke ($$) and Dr. Sharon Dickerson ($$$$). Alternatively, consider Holistic Dentists, Biological Dentists, and Mercury-Free Dentists.
Clenching & Grinding
Chronic clenching, grinding and excessive bite pressure may not only contribute to tooth degradation, muscular-skeletal issues, pain, and headaches, but also fractures in the roots of teeth, particularly those with fillings or crowns. This can lead to necrosis, the death of the tooth and the slow death of the individual.
Our upper and lower jaws are inherently designed to not be in contact except when chewing.
Do you clench/grind while sleeping? As an alternative, consider making an effort to keep your tongue in the roof of the mouth and relax your jaws such that there is a natural gap between your upper and lower teeth while your lips are still sealed.
If this attempt is unsuccessful, consider using either (1) self massage at YouTube or (2) myofunctional/myofascial therapies, i.e. SandraCoulson.com or (3) chiropractors or (4) My Sleep Guard for a sleep guard that retrains you with biofeedback to not clench or Nite Bite, which is not BPA free, or (5) a dentist-installed, BPA-free guard. Many dentists provide anti-clenching devices, i.e. full guards, frontal guards, flat plane splints, etc. and anti-snoring techniques.
Bite Guards and Inflammation
Be aware that some Thermogram Center clients who wear a full front-to-back mouth/bite guard at night still have inflammation in all four back quadrants of the jaws because they still have something to bite down on. And some clients have bitten through their full guards and cracked their teeth.
If appropriate, consider a frontal guard that creates vertical dimension/air space between the side and back teeth, where we apply the most forces when clenching. (This is contingent on you being a good candidate for such a guard.)
Bite Guard Relief
When fitted and installed correctly – with TMJ examination and consideration, a good anti-clenching device should not only keep us from cracking our own teeth, but also reduce muscular tension, inflammation, trigger points, muscle and headache pain, and jaw misalignment.
But it must be fitted to each individual mouth and installed properly or like any device, it can alter the bite… for the worse. Such devices are often made in the dentist’s office, no wider than two finger tips, and span some front upper or lower teeth, depending on your anatomy and physiology.
Expect a TMJ-certified dentist to do a palpation exam of muscles, documenting clinical notes at the fitting and then calling you back in for a repeat exam a week or two later to ensure the device is relaxing everything and no muscle is tighter / no teeth are moving. If movement or added tension is present, then an adjustment to the fitting may be needed. Keep in mind: teeth –TMJ – vertebrae – musculature – jawbone… they’re all connected/one system.
Oral Care
Consider oral care that includes techniques like: oil pulling, rinsing, flossing, water picks and brushing with a rotary brush (i.e. Braun, Oral B) multiple times a day.
Oil Pulling
Are you a candidate for oil pulling to reduce bacteria on your teeth and gums? Learn the many benefits of oil pulling.
Oral Rinsing
Consider non-alcohol mouth rinses with essential oils for their anti-microbial and breathe freshening attributes like Essential Oxygen’s: BR Organic Brushing Rinse. (They also offer 3% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide, Toothpaste and Tooth Polish.)
Another healthy oral rinse is: Dental Herb Company’s Tooth & Gums Tonic. There are many such rinses and oral care items at Amazon, including OraMD… and some clients make their own with oils like cinnamon, clove, tea tree, peppermint, etc. Here is an article on essential oils.
According to Young Living Essential Oils: “Essential Oils make excellent oral antiseptics, analgesics and anti-inflammatories. Clove essential oils have been used in mainstream dentistry for decades to numb the gums and help prevent infections.
Similarly menthol (found in peppermint oil), Menthyl salycilate (found in wintergreen oil), thymol (found in thyme essential oil), and eucalyptol (found in eucalyptus and rosemary), essential oils are approved OTC drug products for combating gingivitis and periodontal disease.”
Young Living Products for oral care include: (Thieves essential oil), Thieves Dentarome Ultra toothpaste, Thieves Lozenges, Thieves Spray, Thieves Fresh Essence Plus mouthwash, Thieves dental floss. You can find Young Living and dōTerra lines of oils via Amazon or local distributors via Google.
Toothpastes
Consider natural toothpastes over the commercialized brands. Look for natural ingredients with microscrubbing and antimicrobial properties without chemicals and artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. It’s buyer beware! Or, make your own. Dr. Axe recommends Coconut oil+Baking soda+Essential oils+Erythritol, xylitol, or stevia(optional)+Salt+Bentonite clay. Subscribe to Dr. Axe to see the recipe here or his natural remineralizing toothpaste recipe.
Brushing and Flossing
It goes without saying that proper brushing and flossing are crucial for oral care. Consider brushing and flossing after each meal, or at least morning and night. The added benefits of water pik flossers and rotary tooth brushes are that they not only clean well in-between teeth and at the gum line, but also clean, massage and toughen-up the gums. Tough gums that never bleed create a barrier against the microbes of the outside world. (Be aware: frequent toothpicking and brushing too hard can contribute to receding gums.) Consult with a dental professional to learn more.
Fluoride
While I am all for the application of fluoride directly to the teeth via dental procedures and toothpastes, I do not support the ingestion of fluoride in the water supply. Subscribe to Dr. Axe to Learn Why Fluoride is Bad for You.
by Tirza Derflinger
Founder, Author, Lead Educator, Speaker, CTT, MBA
Better Breast Health – For Life!™
Be the Cure. Seek Prevention.
text/call 303-664-1139 ● thermogramcenter.com