Are you into heavy metal?

Did you know that mercury is ranked the second most toxic element in the world? Just under plutonium.

Fabulous right? Especially since just about everyone (at least that I know) who has had a cavity filled gets the amalgam fillings (the darker gray or metallic looking fillings). They’re cheaper and insurance normally doesn’t pay for the nice white fillings. The problem is, the mercury can leach out of these fillings by eating and drinking, by chewing gum, and even by brushing our teeth.

So what’s the big deal anyways?
Well, researchers have found that the build up of mercury in our bodies can cause problems for both sexes. Things like immune system problems, period problems, reduced sperm count, ovulation disorders, miscarriage, and premature birth.

It seems to build up in the testes, the pituitary gland, and the thyroid and adrenal glands in men. All places that are vital in the reproductive system! It’s even been shown in animal studies to affect the sperm movement and viability.

The pituitary gland in women is also vital for producing sex and pregnancy hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone . A study done on mice in 1983 found that mercury can also build up on the ovaries themselves. Throughout the years it’s also been implicated in miscarriages of women who work with the substance (dental hygienists for example).

So what do you do?
You can actually have a urine or stool sample done by your doctor to see if you have any type of buildup of mercury in your body. And remember, it doesn’t have to be just from fillings. Vaccines when I was young had mercury in them, some still have trace amounts today. An over consumption of polluted fish can also raise your mercury levels.

You can have your old fillings taken out and replaced with the white composite material. But make sure the dentist you see has specific knowledge on how to safely remove the mercury fillings.

You can also talk to a nutritionist or holistic physician on how to detoxify your body from mercury. Many times a good diet will help your body remove toxins as well. And as always, all of our bodies are different. Some people may easily pass the toxic metal out of their system, while others easily build it up. But if you’ve been trying to conceive for awhile with no luck, and have unexplained infertility, it can’t hurt to get this checked out.