Guest guest Posted March 27, 2007 Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 Whenever I get a new cavity, which isn't often, I do not let the dentist put in silver/amalgam fillings. I had the 4 amalgam fillings removed just in case they cause trouble in the future. Amoeba > > So I've noticed posts about teeth fillings being toxic. My dentist > wanted to put silver fillings in my teeth and assured me it was safe. > I've seen dentists who do the 'alternative' dentistry and take out > fillings and such advertise in holistic magazines, but I doubt > medicaid would even cover that. I was only given a handful of dentists > that medicaid would pay for. I don't know what to do. I have lots of > cavities and I don't want to lose my teeth, but I will not put > anything harmful into my body. I do take zinc which is supposed to do > wonders for your teeth. In fact, I had an infection in my lower front > teeth a year ago and the dentist said if it didn't clear up I would > lose them. I took double doses of zinc for two weeks and the dentists > and his assistants were baffled at how good my teeth looked and my > infection had cleared up so well and so fast. I had to cut back on the > zinc as it was bothering my tummy. Anyway, I've just been worried b/c > a back tooth of mine has been bothering me some and it looks like my > gum has been receding around it. Any suggestions? > > PS I still have my old fillings in. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 27, 2007 Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 dear bunni, if you value your health, please do not put in any more amalgam fillings. the so-called " silver " are a majority MERCURY--the most toxic metal on earth next to radioactive. even the non-holistic dentists can use composites (also called " resins " ) to fill your cavitities. look around and find a dentist who uses a lot of resin for fillings (to ensure that he-she has experience using the resin, as each type of filling requires different techniques). best is if you can find a holistic dentist, many of which DO take insurance, so don't give up hope of finding one. if you do need to have the old mercury fillings removed and replaced, it's essential you find a knowledgeable mercury-free dentist. however, if you are just have new cavities filled for first time, it's not quite as important. most important is finding a dentist who is skilled using composites. a poorly placed composite can be problem. my experience with insurance is that IF you can document that your old fillings must be removed (because cracked, too old, ect), then insurance doesn't care who you choose to remove them as long as the dentist is in their network. where do you live? How can I find a mercury-free dentist? http://emporium.turnpike.net/P/PDHA/mercury/dentist.htm Send a #10 SASE with 78 cents postage to: Foundation For Toxic-Free Dentistry (or just use FTFD) P.O. Box 608010 Orlando, FL 32860-8010 Be very careful when selecting a dentist. Composite fillings require more skill in placement than amalgam, and the risk for further mercury exposure during amalgam replacement is great. The dentist should follow something similar to the IOAMT protocol: http://mall.turnpike.net/P/PDHA/mercury/iaomt.htm for amalgam removal and replacement. breathing, smiling, gratefully, kendra -----Original Message----- From: bunnibaby29 So I've noticed posts about teeth fillings being toxic. My dentist wanted to put silver fillings in my teeth and assured me it was safe. I've seen dentists who do the 'alternative' dentistry and take out fillings and such advertise in holistic magazines, but I doubt medicaid would even cover that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2007 Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 >Dear Bunni, I totally agree with the other posts that 'silver' [ie. toxic mercury] fillings are a serious health hazard, especially to people like us whose bodies are already finding it difficult to get rid of other unwanted things! I sympathise with you on the money issue though and wish you luck finding someone, Carolyn > So I've noticed posts about teeth fillings being toxic. My dentist > wanted to put silver fillings in my teeth and assured me it was safe. > I've seen dentists who do the 'alternative' dentistry and take out > fillings and such advertise in holistic magazines, but I doubt > medicaid would even cover that. I was only given a handful of dentists > that medicaid would pay for. I don't know what to do. I have lots of > cavities and I don't want to lose my teeth, but I will not put > anything harmful into my body. I do take zinc which is supposed to do > wonders for your teeth. In fact, I had an infection in my lower front > teeth a year ago and the dentist said if it didn't clear up I would > lose them. I took double doses of zinc for two weeks and the dentists > and his assistants were baffled at how good my teeth looked and my > infection had cleared up so well and so fast. I had to cut back on the > zinc as it was bothering my tummy. Anyway, I've just been worried b/c > a back tooth of mine has been bothering me some and it looks like my > gum has been receding around it. Any suggestions? > > PS I still have my old fillings in. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2007 Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 kendra wrote: > if you value your health, please do not put in any more amalgam fillings. > the so-called " silver " are a majority MERCURY--the most toxic metal on earth > next to radioactive. even the non-holistic dentists can use composites (also > called " resins " ) to fill your cavitities. As bunni mentioned, Medicaid will likely not pay for these. Those of us who are on Medicaid *do not have money* for alternatives. Sometimes we don't even have money for food, let alone composite fillings or supplements for healing. Alas, this is a week where I'm experiencing that. Sigh. The other day I called to get info on Medicaid covered dentistry -- they actually covered *no* dentistry for several years. I found out that if you need a crown or work on a root canal in anything other than the front six teeth, the only work they will pay to have done is pull the tooth. So, you extract a tooth and leave a big whole in the mouth and all the other teeth start moving and cause pain and gum problems and chewing problems, etc. And that's the state of USA sponsored health care, at least in Massachusetts, where I live. Something's not right about that. Deanna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2007 Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 kendra wrote: > my experience with insurance is that IF you can document that your old > fillings must be removed (because cracked, too old, ect), then insurance > doesn't care who you choose to remove them as long as the dentist is in > their network. where do you live? Unfortunately, our country's dental coverage for the poor, in my experience, has the worst providers on its very tiny list of affiliated dentists. When I first got sick over a dozen years ago and fell into poverty, I needed free dental care. I went to a dentist on the government-program-paid list to have a cavity filled and to get Xrays. I sometimes get severe anxiety during dental work and had used some great dentists who handled this well. However, this government-paid dentist was horrible. After the technician finished the complete-mouth Xrays and moved to pull the lead protective gear away from my neck/thyroid gland, I realized that she had not covered my thyroid gland at all. She had simply draped the barrier over my upper chest. When the dentist started work to fill the cavity I told him I was getting too anxious and he got cranky and demeaning. I asked him to take out the last items he'd stuffed into my mouth until I could calm down. He yanked them out and threw them and his instruments on a side table. Again, this is the kind of health care government programs provide for the poor. Great, eh? Deanna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2007 Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 dear deanna, i'm sorry you had to suffer at the hands of such an unkind dentist. and yes, i totally agree that dentistry care in usa is abyssmal, especially for low-income folks. i have some experience with this because my son, now age 31, has been disabled since age 23. with no work history at that time, he only qualified for SSI. i don't know how anyone thinks that a person can support themselves on only $660 per month! which is all he gets. i and his dad (my ex) try to help where we can with med care. then i lost my job in 2002 do to lyme & mercury and am on disability too. i also realize how many people don't have families who are able or willing to help financially--it's a tragedy of our society. i realize i responded by email rather hastily last night--mostly because the amalgam toxicity is such a hot button for me. in april 1998, before i knew all info about amalgam toxicity, i had an old chipped amalgam filling removed with NO precautions and replaced with resin. i had problems with pain in that tooth for about a year after the filling. it was after this that my symptoms increased, resulting in disability, not been able to work since may 2002. i think that extra contact with mercury left my already stressed immune system unable to respond to the tick bite the following year. this month i'm finally having my amalgams safely removed so that i can chelate the mercury. but i just found out this week that there is a " very tiny speck of amalgam " under that replaced resin filling. and the holistic dentist does not recommend opening up the tooth again to remove it because it would cause so much trauma to the tooth. but some chelation folks say it's not safe to chelate with even that tiny speck of amalgam in the tooth. so i'm in a quandary now to decide what to do. i wish someone had told me in 1998 how important it is to have the amalgams safely removed--totally removed. the costs to my health and the costs to have all the dental work redone is huge. may we all find kind, skillful care. kendra -----Original Message----- From: [mailto: ]On Behalf Of bluesky Unfortunately, our country's dental coverage for the poor, in my experience, has the worst providers on its very tiny list of affiliated dentists.... When I first got sick over a dozen years ago and fell into poverty, I needed free dental care. I went to a dentist on the government-program-paid list to have a cavity filled and to get Xrays.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2007 Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 I didn't know Medicaid covered ANY dentistry. I have Medicaid along with Medicare, plus plan B, I think it is that I am paying for. And it was MY understanding that medicare and medicaid don't pay for either dentistry or eye exams and/or glasses?!?!?!?! THAT being said, YOU are smart to NOT let them put in the Amalgams. I am pretty old now, 65, and never heard anything about Lyme, or Amalgams, etc., when I was growing up and most of my adult life. I started having all my amalgams taken out last year, but had an accident with my truck and their insurance company wants me to pay over $9,000 and I don't have the money for either, so had to put the dentistry on hold for sure. I still hope to do it, but don't know when I can. Jim ### nnspence <nnspence@...> wrote: Whenever I get a new cavity, which isn't often, I do not let the dentist put in silver/amalgam fillings. I had the 4 amalgam fillings removed just in case they cause trouble in the future. Amoeba Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 28, 2007 Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 I guess the old adage DOES have some truth to it, eh? You get what you pay for?!?!?! Jim. ### bluesky <bluesky@...> wrote: kendra wrote: > my experience with insurance is that IF you can document that your old > fillings must be removed (because cracked, too old, ect), then insurance > doesn't care who you choose to remove them as long as the dentist is in > their network. where do you live? Unfortunately, our country's dental coverage for the poor, in my experience, has the worst providers on its very tiny list of affiliated dentists. When I first got sick over a dozen years ago and fell into poverty, I needed free dental care. I went to a dentist on the government-program-paid list to have a cavity filled and to get Xrays. I sometimes get severe anxiety during dental work and had used some great dentists who handled this well. However, this government-paid dentist was horrible. After the technician finished the complete-mouth Xrays and moved to pull the lead protective gear away from my neck/thyroid gland, I realized that she had not covered my thyroid gland at all. She had simply draped the barrier over my upper chest. When the dentist started work to fill the cavity I told him I was getting too anxious and he got cranky and demeaning. I asked him to take out the last items he'd stuffed into my mouth until I could calm down. He yanked them out and threw them and his instruments on a side table. Again, this is the kind of health care government programs provide for the poor. Great, eh? Deanna --------------------------------- Don't pick lemons. See all the new 2007 cars at Autos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2007 Report Share Posted March 29, 2007 " R. Bayliss " <jbbigrod@...> wrote: > I guess the old adage DOES have some truth to it, eh? You get what you pay for?!?!?! > Jim. I just got an estimate on removing my old fillings and replacing them with something less bothersome. Nearly $8,000.00. And that doesn't include having the one cavitation (wisdon tooth extraction site) surgically addressed. I think the most important stuff is gonna run around $4,000.00. And hopefully insurance will cover part of it (since a couple of the old fillings actually do have decay under them - yippee!). It's gonna take me a long while to get this all done. I'll save up for a quadrant, see how much gets reimbursed, save up for the next... Patience. Gotta learn patience. D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Have either of you changed toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. lately? > > > > Bridget, > > > > > > > > I too had a recent problem with tooth decay. I would go 10 years with > > nothing, then last month I went to the dentist and had 3 areas of decay. I > > have always maintained good oral hygiene. I don't eat sweets but rarely. I > > have been drinking KT for 6 months and ACV for 3 years. And it had been 3 > > years since I went to the dentist (no insurance and I didn't buy it when I > > lost my job because my teeth were always good). I told the dentist and he > > said between the ACV I drink and the KT the acids are an excellent breeding > > ground for decay. He said what do to neutralize the mouth after drinking > > these things is rinse my mouth with a water and baking soda solution then > > rinse with water. So I keep a bottle of premixed baking soda/water on the > > counter and swish and spit after I drink. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Have either of you changed toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. lately? > > > > Bridget, > > > > > > > > I too had a recent problem with tooth decay. I would go 10 years with > > nothing, then last month I went to the dentist and had 3 areas of decay. I > > have always maintained good oral hygiene. I don't eat sweets but rarely. I > > have been drinking KT for 6 months and ACV for 3 years. And it had been 3 > > years since I went to the dentist (no insurance and I didn't buy it when I > > lost my job because my teeth were always good). I told the dentist and he > > said between the ACV I drink and the KT the acids are an excellent breeding > > ground for decay. He said what do to neutralize the mouth after drinking > > these things is rinse my mouth with a water and baking soda solution then > > rinse with water. So I keep a bottle of premixed baking soda/water on the > > counter and swish and spit after I drink. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 I have changed toothpaste to Sensodyne Pro-enamel one year ago. V Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 I can actually answer this question with a solid answer. My dentist is a holistic dentist who is very open to things, and knows quite a bit about kombucha and its effects on the body. He agrees that it is amazing, but he also told me, while he was bonding my front teeth last month, that it actually eats your enamel when consumed in large quantities. Even though it has an alkaline effect on your gut, it is a acidic drink in nature. I never had a cavity or any teeth problems my whole life until I started drinking 24 oz of booch a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 I can actually answer this question with a solid answer. My dentist is a holistic dentist who is very open to things, and knows quite a bit about kombucha and its effects on the body. He agrees that it is amazing, but he also told me, while he was bonding my front teeth last month, that it actually eats your enamel when consumed in large quantities. Even though it has an alkaline effect on your gut, it is a acidic drink in nature. I never had a cavity or any teeth problems my whole life until I started drinking 24 oz of booch a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 ...oh but may I add that my teeth problems stopped when I started brewing it myself. They only were bad when I was drinking Synergy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 ...oh but may I add that my teeth problems stopped when I started brewing it myself. They only were bad when I was drinking Synergy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 Well, hmmm. Mixed results - not that surprising. Perhaps I'll just make sure we follow our morning drink (which is probably 14 to 16 oz.) with a glass of water. I can do the baking soda rinse too, since I brush with that already when I'm not using Tom's or something, but I doubt I'll get the others to. Thanks everybody for your responses! Bridget > > Well, this time I tried searching the archives, but wasn't satisfied with what I dug up, so I'm going to ask. > Does anyone have any data about KT & tooth decay? There are 4 of us in my home who are drinking a glass every am. 3 went to the dentist this week, and while my 12yo son was fine, my 9yo has some decay between his baby teeth & the dentist said to reduce his intake of candy & sugary drinks. The closest thing he gets to soda is KT. My dh's teeth are basically rotting out & 2 will have to be pulled next week. I haven't gone yet, but know I have a tooth that has at least lost enamel, as it hurts when I bite on it. > This just has me wondering if the sugar or acid or carbonation in the KT has anything to do with any of these issues (and of course, I'm hoping the answer is no, but...). I think that our KT is neither vinegary or sweet, just bubbly, but then, that's pretty subjective, I know. > Any thoughts, research or experience out there? > Thanks! > Bridget > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 Well, hmmm. Mixed results - not that surprising. Perhaps I'll just make sure we follow our morning drink (which is probably 14 to 16 oz.) with a glass of water. I can do the baking soda rinse too, since I brush with that already when I'm not using Tom's or something, but I doubt I'll get the others to. Thanks everybody for your responses! Bridget > > Well, this time I tried searching the archives, but wasn't satisfied with what I dug up, so I'm going to ask. > Does anyone have any data about KT & tooth decay? There are 4 of us in my home who are drinking a glass every am. 3 went to the dentist this week, and while my 12yo son was fine, my 9yo has some decay between his baby teeth & the dentist said to reduce his intake of candy & sugary drinks. The closest thing he gets to soda is KT. My dh's teeth are basically rotting out & 2 will have to be pulled next week. I haven't gone yet, but know I have a tooth that has at least lost enamel, as it hurts when I bite on it. > This just has me wondering if the sugar or acid or carbonation in the KT has anything to do with any of these issues (and of course, I'm hoping the answer is no, but...). I think that our KT is neither vinegary or sweet, just bubbly, but then, that's pretty subjective, I know. > Any thoughts, research or experience out there? > Thanks! > Bridget > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2011 Report Share Posted April 18, 2011 Bridget - Did you say that you use Tom's toothpaste? That does NOTHING to protect or restore your tooth enamel. That could be the problem you are experiencing. ~ > > > Well, hmmm. Mixed results - not that surprising. Perhaps I'll just make > sure we follow our morning drink (which is probably 14 to 16 oz.) with a > glass of water. I can do the baking soda rinse too, since I brush with that > already when I'm not using Tom's or something, but I doubt I'll get the > others to. > Thanks everybody for your responses! > Bridget > > > > > > Well, this time I tried searching the archives, but wasn't satisfied with > what I dug up, so I'm going to ask. > > Does anyone have any data about KT & tooth decay? There are 4 of us in my > home who are drinking a glass every am. 3 went to the dentist this week, and > while my 12yo son was fine, my 9yo has some decay between his baby teeth & > the dentist said to reduce his intake of candy & sugary drinks. The closest > thing he gets to soda is KT. My dh's teeth are basically rotting out & 2 > will have to be pulled next week. I haven't gone yet, but know I have a > tooth that has at least lost enamel, as it hurts when I bite on it. > > This just has me wondering if the sugar or acid or carbonation in the KT > has anything to do with any of these issues (and of course, I'm hoping the > answer is no, but...). I think that our KT is neither vinegary or sweet, > just bubbly, but then, that's pretty subjective, I know. > > Any thoughts, research or experience out there? > > Thanks! > > Bridget > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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