Ban Mercury Use in UK Dentistry
The NHS (National Health Service, England) is running a public consultation to inform decision-making on the government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England. Amalgam dental fillings are made of 50% mercury, a highly toxic substance linked to numerous health and environmental risks. Despite this, the UK still allows the use of mercury amalgams in public health programmes. The European Union has already banned it. Until 14th April, we have a unique opportunity to change that. Dr Graeme Munro-Hall, Chief Dental Officer of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, has submitted a proposal (below) to end the use of mercury in NHS dental care. Your help is needed to make this proposal a priority for the English health authorities.
Call To Action
This is how you can help protect public health and the environment and eliminate mercury from dental care.
1.visit the proposal page - https://change.nhs.uk/en-GB/ideas/stop-mercury-use-in-nhs-dental-care
2.Click the thumbs up symbol the right to like the proposal (just need to provide your name and email address to sign up).
3.Share the link with your network, friends and family and encourage them to like it too.
The goal is to get more than 2,000 “thumbs up” to make this the most liked proposal and get the government’s attention. Your support can help move the NHS towards mercury-free dentistry.
What Mercury-Free Would Mean in the UK
What would mercury-free dentistry on the NHS mean in the UK? How would this affect the health of the nation? If the NHS ended all use of dental mercury and reimbursed only mercury-free filling materials, this would:
1.Reduce human exposure to mercury. Once implanted in teeth, mercury amalgam continues to release low levels of mercury vapour, with higher amounts released during eating and drinking, tooth grinding and brushing. Mercury released from dental amalgams can seriously adversely affect all organ systems of the human body, including mental health, as published on the Minamata Convention’s website - minamataconvention.org/en
2.Improve oral health - Amalgam placement requires the removal of healthy tooth matter, weakens tooth structure and cracks teeth as it expands and contracts - leading to higher dental bills later. Amalgam-filled teeth are significantly more likely to need root canal therapy or be extracted than teeth filled with mercury-free alternatives. In 2012, the Chief Dental officer of England recommended that the UK become amalgam free by 2016 following the Danish example.
3.Protect the environment. Between 226 and 322 tonnes of mercury are used for amalgam globally each year. This enters the environment via air pollution from crematoria, dental clinic emissions, sludge incineration, human waste, soil via landfills, burials and fertiliser.
The European Union banned amalgam use by 1st January, 2025. Other countries like Norway, Moldova, Tanzania, St Kitts and Nevis banned it before. Their example proves that mercury-free filling materials are available, affordable and effective. It’s time for the NHS to stop using toxic mercury.
There is a mountain of scientific evidence (that many dentists have never had time to read) linking dental mercury to Alzheimer’s, MS, ALS, Parkinson’ Disease, fibromyalgia, allergies, autoimmunity, chronic fatigue, heart disease, kidney disease, depression, anxiety, cancer and more. It’s a slow creeping poison. For more information on how mercury amalgams damage human health please look at:
*My blog on the Good Health Clinic, Plymouth website entitled Mercury Fillings: The Slow Poison In Your Mouth
*Youtube videos with Dr Hal Huggins.
*The IAOMT website (International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology).
We now have a chance up until 14th April to improve the health of the whole nation, not just those who can afford private dentistry. Please send a strong message to the government that we want mercury free dentistry on the NHS!
If you feel that dental metals or infections are affecting your health, please get in touch with the Good Health Clinic on goodhealthclinic@outlook.com to request a free 30 minute Enquiry Call or book an appointment. Please note that an Enquiry call is not a consultation but an exploratory call to see if this is a clinical approach you wish to pursue.
To your very good health,
Suzanne Jeffery (Nutritional Medicine Consultant)
M.A.(Oxon), BSc.(NMed), PGCE, MNNA, CNHC
The Good Health Clinic at The Business Centre, 2, Cattedown Road, Plymouth PL4 0EG
Tel no: 07836 552936/ Answer phone: 01752 774755
Disclaimer:
All advice given out by Suzanne Jeffery and the Good Health Clinic is for general guidance and informational purposes only. All advice relating to other health professionals’ advice is for general guidance and information purposes only. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information provided with other sources. Patients and consumers should review the information carefully with their professional health care provider. The information is not intended to replace medical advice offered by other practitioners and physicians. Suzanne Jeffery and the Good Health Clinic will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages arising therefrom.