is amalgam dangerous?
403062
Yes, but not as bad as some people would have you believe.\n\nThere is a big difference between metallic mercury, mercury salts and an alloy like amalgam.  The amalgam is not very soluble and does not react like liquid mercury.\n\nIt will slowly react over many years, but the human body is well equipped to handle the elimination of small amounts of toxins.  Given the choice, pick a different dental filling material, but do not freak out about any mercury amalgam fillings you might already have.
175117
in addition to the above answers, mouthrinses cause dental discoloration as well
103994
Fluoride is an acute toxin with a rating slightly higher than that of lead.According to "Clinical Toxicology of Commercial products," 5th Edition, 1984, lead is given a toxicity rating of 3 to 4, and Fluoride is rated at 4 (3 = moderately toxic, 4 = very toxic). On December 7, 1992, the new EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for lead was set at 0.015 ppm, with a goal of 0.0ppm. The MCL for fluoride is currently set for 4.0ppm - that's over 350 times the permissable level of lead.Fluoride is also considered toxic waste. It is one of the most bone seeking elements known to mankind. The US Public Health Service has stated that fluoride makes the bones more brittle and the dental enamel more porous.
865359
Not necessarily but it could mess your teeth up for sure.
1143109
lead, poisonous gas emmissions...you are talking about damage...this stuff can kill you
849520
It's actually not that harmfull. If you don't have that much to whiten to begin with, it's a cheaper way to get your teeth a bit whiter. It's just like anything else, don't over do it. Follow the directions, and then leave your teeth alone. If you want better results, then you should go to a dentist. But for the most part, it's very safe, and no, it you use it right, it won't wear at your enamel, but your teeth might be a bit sensitive, as with ANY whitening treatment.
51938
Even though you wrote quite a bit (for Yahoo) it is quite inadequate for forming hypotheses about probable cause.\nYour tooth affair may be coincidental (no pun intended) and have nothing to do with this strange development.  If you have mercury tooth fillings, try having them removed -- results from that take time.  An MSM supplement helps.\n\nSAMe may help.\n\nBut your case is so interesting to medical people that you should easily find some University Hospital willing to take it up for free.\n\nIt calls for detailed investigation.  Just as a weird police case does.  Not appropriate at all to jump to conclusions or try to solve it on the first day.\n\nSounds like they are 'throwing medicines' at it right now, so I would not delay.\n\nThere are many natural treatments, even for weird things.\n\nMake sure your doctor is very smart and in the 40--60 year old range, and that there is consultation with a neurologist.\n\nBoth of them will want to know what kind of work you have done leading up to this, as well as ANY other weird events in your life.  Did you fall on your head, take drugs, live in Bolivia, etc?  The list goes on....\n\nBest I can do for ya, pal.  I hope it helps.
257886
It occurs when the pulp (nerve) of a tooth is infected.  Yes it is dangerous if not treated because the infection can spread throughout the rest of your body.  More than likely, it'll just land you in the hospital.  Worst case scenerio... it could kill you.\n\nUmmm actually... to correct the person below me... it doesn't eat through your jaw, etc.  At the tip of each tooth is an apical foramen (an opening) where the nerves of the tooth flow out to the rest of the body.  If there is infection in the nerve of the tooth it can go out into the rest of the body through the apical foramen if it isn't treated.  And I would not compare it to cancer at all.
304850
It is acidic and can wear away at the enamel on your teeth. But besides those little bones, there is no evidence that it has impact on any internal bones.
695231
You are making a small battery and experiencing "galvanic shock" due to a reaction between your saliva, your fillings and the aluminum foil.\n\nSearch "electromotive series" for thousands of references.
238679
If you don't brush your teeth everyday, you will face terrible terrible things. \n\nThe mouth contains a wide variety of bacteria, but only a few specific species of bacteria cause dental caries: Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli. These bacteria convert foods—especially sugar and starch—into acids such as lactic acid created through fermentation processes. These acids seep into the tooth and can wear away tooth structure. If you don't brush everyday, conditions in the mouth would become favorable; S. mutans and Lactobacilli will continue to thrive and continue to secrete these acids. Bacteria, acid, food debris and saliva combine in the mouth to form a sticky substance called plaque that adheres to the teeth.\n\nIt is most prominent on the grooved chewing surfaces of molars, just above the gum line on all teeth, and at the margins of fillings. Plaque that is not removed from the teeth may mineralize into calculus (formerly known as tartar). Plaque and calculus irritate the gums, resulting in gingivitis. Periodontitis occurs when there is loss of gingival attachment.\n\n \nParts of a tooth, including dentinThe acids secreted by S. mutans and Lactobacilli in the plaque dissolve the enamel surface of the tooth. As the bacteria become more prolific, the bacteria will follow the advancing front of acid damage and infect the dentin within the tooth. Left untreated, carious lesions will increase in severity from small discolored stains to actual holes in the tooth (cavities). Cavities are usually painless until they grow very large inside the internal structures of the tooth (the dentin and the pulp at the core) and can kill the nerve and disrupt the blood vessels in the tooth. If left untreated, complications may occur such as acute irreversible pulpitis (infection of the pulp) or acute apical pulpitis (abcesses within the mandible.)\n\nPlaque and bacteria begin to accumulate within 20 minutes after eating, the time when most bacterial activity occurs. If plaque and bacteria are left on the teeth, cavities can develop, and untreated tooth decay can result in death of the internal structures of the tooth and ultimately the loss of the tooth.\n\nDietary sugars and starches (carbohydrates) increase the risk of tooth decay. The type of carbohydrate and the timing and frequency of ingestion are more important than the amount. Sticky foods are more harmful than nonsticky foods because they remain on the surface of the teeth. Frequent snacking increases the time that acids are in contact with the surface of the tooth.\n\nSo, you see, if you don't brush regularly, your teeth might develop caries, and you might have to go painful surgeries... and more... but I dont want to make you afraid.  So, better brush everyday rather than getting into BIG problems later.
943429
No they don't.  The silver stuff you see is Amalgram.  In fact most now use another substance- or two other substances actually, both of which are white colored and not quite as durable.  Composite fillings and Isonomers.
794850
It depends on the type of filling you recieved.  If you recieved an amalgam (silver) filling, it takes about 24 hours to completely harden.  If you recieved a composite (tooth colored) filling, the light they shot in your mouth hardened the tooth so you could technically eat right away.  My only warning with composite is that you might want to wait for the anesthesia to wear off so you don't bite your tongue or cheek off.  If you can't feel what is going on inside of your mouth then you won't know if you have bitten yourself and caused serious damage.
1117393
Mercury alloys with several other metals; these alloys are known as amalgams. Dental alloy contains mercury (from 43% to 54%) along with silver, tin, zinc and copper.\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_amalgam\n\nSome obscure mercury alloys occur naturally:\nParaschachnerite Ag3Hg2 \nSchachnerite Ag1.1Hg0.9 \nWeishanite (Au, Ag)3Hg2 \nLuanheite Ag3Hg \nKolymite Cu7Hg6 \nEugenite Ag9Hg2 \nBelendorffite Cu7Hg6 \nMoschellandsbergite Ag2Hg3 \n\nhttp://www.galleries.com/minerals/elements/\nhttp://www.galleries.com/minerals/elements/moschell/moschell.htm
613529
The only legitimate reason to remove a perfectly servicable amalgam filling (that is one that is functioning with no sign of decay) is for esthetics.  They are ugly, thats it.  If you choose to remove them, be prepared to accept it when your conditions do not improve.  Be prepared to accpet the additional cost, both short term and long term of changing your fillings to the "pretty composite fillings".
1125705
my mom and dad go to mexico once a year, whether they need it or not, to do dental exams and cleanings and root canals, they claim the fillings used are a better metal than the usa uses and it is much cheaper and depsite what you think it is also safe my mom has been a dr. for 10= yrs and she trusts them, and like someone said you can get good legal drugs for the pain...which i am sure there will be and for that i wish you a very speedy recovery.
243462
What could be harmful to you?