Did you know that dental “silver fillings” are made with roughly 50% mercury, and researchers found adults with amalgam fillings carried significantly higher blood mercury levels than people without them?
The study showed that mercury exposure rose as the number of amalgam filling surfaces increased, meaning every additional filling added to the body’s toxic burden. Mercury vapour released from fillings travels through the bloodstream, crosses into the brain and placenta, and accumulates inside tissues over time, even when blood tests appear relatively normal
Everyday habits such as chewing gum, grinding your teeth, and drinking very hot beverages increase the release of mercury vapour from amalgam fillings and raise ongoing exposure. Choosing mercury-free dentistry, avoiding unsafe removal procedures, and supporting efforts to ban amalgam nationwide help reduce long-term mercury exposure for you and your family
This study is based in the US, but it is still very relevant for many Australians.
Make Mercury-Free Dentistry Your Baseline
Reading this with a mouthful of amalgam fillings is unsettling. The good news is that mercury exposure isn’t permanent destiny; your body has real defences, and the choices you make starting today determine whether your burden grows or shrinks.
1. Treat mercury fillings like any other toxic metal exposure — Before choosing a new dentist, ask: “Does your office place mercury amalgam fillings on patients?” If the answer is yes, keep looking. Mercury doesn’t belong in your teeth any more than lead belongs in your drinking water.
Don’t let the term “silver filling” soften the reality of what’s inside your mouth. Amalgam fillings contain roughly 50% mercury by weight. Choosing a mercury-free dentist immediately lowers your future exposure and protects your family from unnecessary toxic burden.
2. Walk away from deceptive language and outdated practices — If a dental office avoids the word “mercury” entirely, pay attention. Clear language matters because informed consent matters. You deserve to know exactly what material goes into your body before a drill ever touches your teeth.
If you’re a parent, this becomes even more important. Children absorb toxic exposures differently from adults because their brains and nervous systems are still developing. Refusing outdated materials protects more than your own health. It changes demand in the marketplace and pressures clinics to modernise.
3. Challenge insurance plans that default to mercury fillings — Many dental plans still reimburse amalgam as the cheapest standard option. That financial pressure keeps Mercury dentistry alive. Before treatment begins, ask your insurer exactly which materials are covered and whether mercury-free alternatives qualify for reimbursement.
If your plan penalises you financially for choosing mercury-free care, create a written objection trail. Send a short letter or email to member services, your employer benefits department, or your state Medicaid office if applicable. Insurance companies track complaints carefully. Enough documented objections force policy reviews and coverage changes over time.
4. Lower mercury vapour exposure if you still have amalgam fillings — If removal isn’t financially realistic right now, focus on reducing vapour release day by day. Avoid chewing gum constantly, especially on the side with amalgam fillings. Limit very hot drinks directly against those teeth because heat increases mercury vaporisation.
Refuse whitening, deep cleaning, or polishing procedures performed directly over amalgam fillings. Both the abrasion and the bleaching chemistry can spike mercury vapour release in the moment, meaning a 30-minute hygienist visit can deliver a mercury dose that takes your body weeks to process.
Most importantly, avoid casual drilling by dentists who don’t follow strict safe-removal protocols. Improper removal creates a massive short-term mercury exposure spike that can overwhelm your lungs and nervous system. These steps buy you time while you find a qualified biological dentist and get your health in the right place for safe removal.
5. Create pressure that dentists and insurers can’t ignore — Call local dental offices and ask one direct question: “Does your office place mercury amalgam fillings?” Share the answers with friends, family members, coworkers, and parents at your child’s school. Leave positive reviews for clinics that practice completely mercury-free dentistry.
Markets shift when patients change their behaviour. Dentists notice when people start choosing offices based on mercury-free policies, and insurers notice when enough members reject amalgam coverage. Every conversation, review, and phone call chips away at the system that keeps mercury in people’s mouths. Once enough people reject the default, the default changes.
Read the full analysis by Dr Mercola here
Dr Joseph Mercola is passionate about helping to preserve and enhance the health of the global community. As a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO), he takes a “whole-person” approach to wellness, guiding you to develop attitudes and lifestyles that can help you take control of your health.
