Dental amalgam made headlines in early March when the Dr. Oz Show performed a demonstration that very clearly illustrated the toxic nature of the outdated silver fillings. Broadcasted on national television, the demonstration showed that silver fillings could leak odorless, extremely toxic mercury vapor when brushed by a normal toothbrush. The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) and holistic dentistry professionals are celebrating a new victory in the fight against toxic fillings, however. This year, more than 140 nations have signed into effect an international mercury treaty that lays the groundwork for an eventual “phasing out” of this dangerous material.
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Assure a Smile
Mercury Treaty May Mean the End of Toxic Dental Amalgam
Fluoride Free Victory: Israel Lifts Mandatory Water Fluoridation
The fluoride free movement continues to see unprecedented momentum in 2013 as Israel announces the phase-out of public water fluoridation requirements. First put into action in 2002, Israel’s fluoridation mandate formerly required all municipalities to treat public water with fluoride. That mandate will be lifted within a year, however, empowering Israeli municipalities to reduce exposure to the potentially toxic mineral by going fluoride free.
Is There Aspartame in My Milk?
Today, it’s easy to see if a beverage contains aspartame. In accordance with Federal law, beverages that contain the controversial artificial sweetener must explicitly disclose such information on the label. Soon, however, consumers may not be able to tell which dairy products contain aspartame, and which do not.
World Alliance for Mercury Free Dentistry Celebrates 3rd Anniversary
Assure A Smile congratulates the World Alliance for Mercury Free Dentistry on 3 years of progress toward achieving mercury-free dentistry worldwide! Founded in part by Consumers for Dental Choice, the Alliance has fought hard since 2010 for the phase-down and eventual ban on dental amalgam usage. Assure A Smile is a proud member of the Alliance, and we share the organization’s excited sense of accomplishment with this historical milestone. Together, we will continue to spread awareness for the toxicity of dental amalgam and the long-term damage it causes to the health of patients, dental professionals, and the environment.
Assure A Smile Supports a ‘Fluoride-Free Florida’
Since the early 1900s, American citizens have been led to believe that fluoridated water helps to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay. However, there is a wealth of research that indicates fluoride exposure may cause serious bodily harm. Fluoride has been shown to accumulate in vital soft tissues, like the Pineal Gland of the brain, and it may cause severe damage to the kidneys, reproductive system, and may even lower IQ scores among children.
In this light, it is easy to see why holistic dentistry professionals and fluoride-free water advocates believe that supplementing public drinking water with fluoride is ineffective, costly, and potentially toxic to residents.
Albuquerque Puts an End to Water Fluoridation
The first half of 2012 saw a major victory in the battle for fluoride-free public drinking water in the United States. In April, city officials in Albuquerque, New Mexico, elected not to increase the fluoride content of the community’s water. “We’re going to err on the side of caution,” remarked David Morris, a representative for the Albuquerque Water Authority (i). The decision triggered a ripple effect that stirred debate in neighboring communities, causing public officials and residents alike to reconsider the widely held notion that fluoride is a “healthy.”
6 Reasons to Go Gluten Free
Diet and oral health are connected in a number of interesting ways, and focusing on the former has an increasingly positive effect on the latter. Eating well sets the foundation for creating healthy teeth and gums for life, and oral health is promoted exponentially when daily food consumption is limited to the foods that are most healthy. Today, health professionals are compiling evidence that suggests food items like wheat, barley, and bread are causing serious health issues for a growing number of Americans. The evidence suggests that about 1% of the population has an adverse reaction to gluten, a protein found in most whole grains. This has prompted dental professionals to spread awareness for gluten by encouraging patients to consider how the wheat, barley, and other whole grains in their daily diet may be hurting overall health.
Sugar: The Friendly Enemy
Today, the average person consumes 150 pounds of sugar each year—nearly 20 times the amount consumed by the average person in the 18th century (i). Only about 60% of those calories are metabolized and converted into immediate energy; the remaining 40% are converted into fat molecules, stored, and reserved for energy production later. With this in mind, it is easy to see how sugar consumption is a key contributor to obesity. New research shows that excessive sugar consumption also leads to a number of other life threatening diseases, including type II Diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Miami dentists have begun to spread awareness for this issue, warning patients to be weary of daily sugar intake not only to prevent cavities but to preserve total body health as well.
Super Duper Mini Chef 2012
Last Friday, the Assure a Smile family visited Dadeland Mall for an evening of celebrating the fun side of food! There was no shortage of smiles, laughter, and delicious hand-made snacks. Here are some pictures from the event, along with details on how you may attend the next Super Duper Mini Chef at a Simon Mall near you!
Gluten Sensitivity and Your Oral Health
Gluten has become a buzzword in the wellness industry as an increasing number of individuals have begun to experience adverse reactions to products containing wheat, barley, rye, and other grains. Such reactions range in severity from mild discomfort in the stomach to long-term malnutrition and even osteoporosis. It is estimated that about 1% of Americans suffer from such reactions to gluten-rich foods, a number that has nearly quadrupled over the past decade. It is critical to understand the threat that gluten sensitivity may pose to overall health, and it is particularly important to understand how ordinary sensitivity is separate and distinct from Celiac Disease. The latter is an autoimmune disorder that affects about 1 in 133 Americans and, when left undiagnosed and untreated, can slowly wreak havoc on the entire body.
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