This is more a train of thought than anything else, but I was just wondering what others thoughts are.

For a few years I was given a plastic retainer brace. This is a piece of plastic moulded into the shape of my mouth that I would slot into my mouth and then bite into. The purpose of it was to try and correct my bite. I would sleep with this and wear it a few hours in the evening.

I was wondering if this would have increased the rate of mercury leaking from my fillings because my teeth were in contact with the plastic for about 10 hours a day?

In the morning I would remove the brace and then put in the regular brace with a pink centre and metal hoops around the teeth.

I was wondering if this explains why I got so sick within 18 months of having the fillings.

Well, Demi. from what I have read, if the plastic was pink-coloured, then there was mercury in it. Also, the metal bar on the retainer could have been nickel (carcinogenic) and that would have increased the electrical charge in your mouth, thus drawing out more mercury. I had braces (nickel) and a pink plastic retainer with a metal bar. Not only that, my dentist lightly drilled and filled my four back molars just before I got my braces for some strange reason (money?) He said it was necessary because I was going to get braces! They had no cavities that I am aware of.

Here's a question. My daughter is just about to come out of braces. I don't want the regular retainer for her due to its pink colour (mercury) and nickel bar, esp since there is a strong history of breast cancer in my husband's family. Does anyone know of a more biologiically-friendly type of retainer? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

That is terrible that your dentist filled your teeth when there wasn't even a cavity! The dentist I had as a child was very "generous" with fillings too. By the time I was 16 I had 10 amalgam fillings, one composite and sealant. I don't think the sealant did much good, to be honest, as that tooth is in a worse shape now than some of the others. If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have had the sealant or the amalgam. One of the saddest things is that I was actually proud of my first "silver" filling! I had no idea it was going to take the rest of my childhood away from me. And even when I did get ill and they gave me more and more amalgam, I never made the connection.

The regualr brace that I had was pink, but the retainer one was like a clear white-ish plastic. It was shaped in the form of my mouth and I would bite into it for about 10 hours a day - the plastic would therefore touch my teeth. It was a weird thing - top and bottom brace in one.

I believe there are some more bio-friendly braces out there, but I think you will have to research them. Let me know what you find. I might need to get treatment myself in the future as I still have a receding jaw that might cause problems as I get older - apparently they didn't do the job properly first time round.

dallas I am looking for that same answer myself. My son is due to have his braces removed in April, maybe May. I do not want him to have any metal or mercuy based products put in his mouth after the "tin" is removed.

If you find out something safe to use, please let me know. The current orthodontist is removing the braces only. He puts a metal bar in their mouth that stays there permanently and he's told us this is safe and the absolute best, there is nothing else offered. So we'll be going somewhere else for another option.

If I find anything out, I'll let you know.

Tx, Soaper Gal. Our orthodontist also leaves in a bottom bar - he did that with our older three sons. They still have them in! I am thinking of getting them to ask our new holistic dentist if that is a good idea. If they remember, I will get back to you on whether it is something that should be left in or not. I had braces and did not have a lower bar left in and my teeth did not shift a lot.

My youngest is also about to see the orthodontist and I really dread trying to talk to him about safe products. I haven't found any information either and would love to hear from anyone who has info on braces or retainers.

I brought my daughter (who is 9 1/2) to my dentist because he deals with ortho also. He found that she grinds her teeth at night along with having an overbite. He prescribed a night guard that will serve both purposes - to stop damaging her permanent teeth from grinding her teeth at night & it will also line up her jaw and teeth. It is clear plastic - she only wears it at night & about an hour a day so she can do mouth exercises. It is also much less expensive that braces.

I think that is what I had. I had the same problem with needing to correct the bite. I got some improvement, but apparently not enough.

I think it may have contributed to my problems because I had the amalgam fillings, and the pressure of biting into it may have released higher amounts of mercury. But maybe the regular metal braces were more of a problem, I don't know.

Well, I took my daughter to the orthodontist yesterday. I told him of my concerns with metals. He told me that the braces are stainless steel, which does contain some nickel. He was'nt aware of what they use to color retainers, but I told him I didn't want anything with red.

My question is: Knowing that my daughter will have this nickel containing metal in her mouth (she doesn't have amalgams, but has problems from her mother's mercury), what should I have her take to help with the things that she will be exposed to during this "braces" time? She already takes magnesium.

I would recommend Algin, because it binds to nickel as well as mercury.

Magnesium is also very important because it has been shown to be a competitive antagonist (a substance that blocks or nullifies the actions of another) of the toxic effects of nickel.

Since she doesn't have amalgam fillings, then she could take a formula like Heavy Metal Detox, which contains algin, magnesium and other ingredients that help promote the elimination of heavy metals and protect the cells from the effects of heavy metal exposure. Even though this product contains some algin, I would personally take extra algin to ensure that all the nickel is being eliminated (along with the mercury).

The metal clips are stainless steel meaning they contain nickel. This is another hazardous metal that makes you sick. But when you mix more than one metal in your mouth you galvanize, yes like a battery, and this increases the speed at which mercury leaks out of your fillings.
I am sorry to say I had to quite wearing my tmj retainer for that reason. My headaches and muscle spasms in my jaw were worse with the retainer.

As my daughter is just about to have her braces removed, I asked my dentist what could be used as safe materials for her retainer. He said that titanium for the metal bar, and a clear plastic would be the best that he could think of. He is a really good dentist, as far as I can see. He used all the Huggins protocol and told me what supplements to get to detoxify. He seems aware of the issues. Does anyone know about the possible toxicity of titanium?

I wish I had more time to research this timely subject. Nevertheless, here are a few web links that may be helpful:

Titanium Toxicity

Titanium Dioxide

Biological effects and toxicity assessment of titanium dioxides: anatase and rutile.

"Titanium fluoride and zirconium fluoride induced toxic effects on all the organisms tested at high concentrations. These concentrations are only expected to occur in heavy polluted industrial effluents. The results of this study indicate that both compounds are less toxic than chromium compounds actually used in the metal finishing industry. urthermore, titanium and zirconium passivation baths seem to constitute a promising alternative to chromium passivation baths from an ecotoxicological point of view."

Titanium Plate Safety Information

Thanks for the info, Laura. The Heavy Metal Detox sounds good.

If you go to the website of braces manufacturers, they display a warning that "some patients exhibit an allergic reaction to the nickel in the braces". Of course, we are all allergic to nickel. It is a cancer causing poisonous metal.
As the FDA classified it.
I have a daughter who needs braces for an overbite. I am not getting them. I have found orthodontic products that do not use any metal to correct overbites and crooked teeth. Tell them your child is nickel sensitive or is allergic and needs treatment another way. You can request CLEAR plastic retainers! The pink is mercuric oxide usually or cadium. Not good. I would be wary of any dentist the is not aware that stainless steel contains nickel or a dentist that is apprehensive to accomodate you. They are not reading the OSHA sheets for the products they use. Even the manufactures disclose online what is in their plastic and metal products.
Remember...YOU are Paying them!... A LOT OF MONEY to fix your child's teeth. If you want no metal, or clear plastic they should provide that request even if it costs you more money. It is your money and your child's future.
Metal bars are also stainless steel. Personally, I would request a plastic retainer to wear instead.
This is only based upon my research in orthodontics, and I am not condemming anyones decisions or telling you how to treat your children. Just sharing what I found out with research. Buyer Beware!

I agree, Metal Mouth Mom, about the need to do whatever possible to make sure kids aren't poisoned.

I am pretty sure it was the amalgam and braces that made me sick. No, I am certain of it, as I wasn't sick until I got fillings and braces.

I was not sick either until amalgams and braces. This began my life long struggle with chronic depression and other health issues. Kids get enough toxic things in their food that we can't control.

Absolutely.

The weird thing is that I had connected my problems to my teeth, but hadn't made the right connection. I thought I had got some damage from the gas they gave me to put me to sleep at 9 years old to pull out a tooth. I never believed that my problems "just happened", it seemed to me there had to be a cause as I was such a different child before I started getting dental treatment. I didn't think about the fillings. As far as I know, I never got amalgam in my baby teeth.

I have suffered from depression too, and my mother has suffered from it. She and I have a lot of the same symptoms. The sick thing is I was quite proud of my "silver" filling when I first got it and was showing it to my parents and so forth. It's very disturbing now when I think they were giving me and thousands of other children a potent toxin. It's no wonder I started to get the OCD and the migraines and the tremor and pins and needles and so forth, and my skin so sensitive sometimes it would hurt to the touch. I still get this.

I know that right after I had my first amalgams I began to have moods, sleep alot and trouble breathing. Then braces it got worse. To this day I am still allergic to nickel. Only gold or silver can be on my skin. I have read that some research is showing a connection between teen suicide, violence, destructive behavior and delinquency, following the installation of braces. These kids actually drop an entire grade point average in school on top of it. When the braces are removed the problems go away. Braces are antenna's for EMF's which interfer with the electrical impulses of our brains.

This sounds like the Occlus-o-guide/night guard!
Wonderful if they an correct her with that. My dtr has the same problems. Overbite, grinds at night. I am not sure is mine can have it too. But that is what we are aiming for.

Apart from any metal in the braces, they are not healthful for growing children because of the pressure they put on the skull, or so I read, and it makes sense to me. It may be a subtle pressure, but it's bad nonetheless.

That would explain why I have what I refer to as "long head" symdrome. None of my family has long faces, just round, or heart shaped. I had a nice round one as a kid. That is what I attribute the change in face structure too as well. I think it contributed to my TMJ too.

It is just unnatural - maybe not as bad as the old Chinese practice of footbinding, but the principle is the same.

There have always been people with imperfect teeth. Yet, up until a few decades ago, they could all walk, talk, chew gum, get married, raise children, make a living, and everything else while still having those imperfect teeth. Now, however, even if your children's teeth stick out only slightly, by God, you are neglectful and uncaring if you don't spend your last penny "taking care of the problem".

I have heard of children having all kinds of problems that just magically disappeared when the braces were removed for good.

From what I am reading, there is no evidence pointing to titanium being any safer. The only evidence they have thus far is that it is not good for your body. I am sticking with the clear acrylic approach myself. thanks for the links.

My braces did correct my goofy teeth, but it seems like at a heavy price. I have a bad receding jaw and my bite is quite poor. I am somewhat selfconscious about my mouth because of the bad alignment that makes my lips look thin, but having been told how bad my mouth is since I was 12 it's not surprising I think it is ugly!

Some of my teeth are cracked, which I'm told is from grinding my teeth, but I can't help think that the braces played a part because I think they interferred with natural growth etc.

MMM, can you get clear acrylic in place of the metal bar in a retainer? Both my holistic dentist and my naturopathic dr. recommend titanium. I guess that is because there really is no good choice. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

They may be able to provde a clear acrylic retainer for your child to wear instead of leaving in a metal bar. They used to just give you a night retainer to wear for a few years after braces were removed anyway. And not all orthodontist use a metal bar either. I am not sure titanium is any better. Read the info at the link Russ provided on titanium. Basically, it doesn't look to be any better. The main function of the bar is to keep their teeth from shifting back, right? I don't see what a retainer couldnt' do the same thing. As long as you child wears it the recommended time. Never hurts to ask! Ask them what else they can offer!

i currently have to wear retainers and i have a set stuck on my bottom teeth. braces came off recently. im guessing this would be bad if i used DMSA? feedback please. thanks.

THe DMSA should be fine to keep using. It has an affinity to the metals lead and mercury, rather than the direct metal of a retainer.

Evie has just had her first two teeth out and two more next week. She has to have retainers. I spoke to the dentist as I know from my Melissa test that I have a problem with Nickel and explained my worries. They wern't at all helpful,, in fact thought I was slighlty weird. She is going ahead as she o r Keith think I'm worrying too much. What can you do but advise. Love Tracy xxxx

Hi Tracy, I had braces when I was 14-15 years old and I got ill from the allergy to the metal, the toxicity of the nickel, plus the combination of metals in the mouth with the amalgam.

So yeah for some kids they can react to their braces/retainers. Im not sure what you can do. I have heard there are apparently braces that can be made from something else other than metal....but I do not know enough about it.

For me, I got sicker quite fast. I had the metal studs put on my teeth (ready for the wire) and I seem to recall deteriorating from that point on. Nobody made the connection of course and it was all put down to adolesence. I got very sick because I think that I had always been burdened by my amalgams previously but must have been somehow still coping. I ended up changing in my personality, appearance and became withdrawn and very ill. Blurred vision, pale skin, blemishes that wouldn't heal properly, sore eyes, hair pigment faded, depression, and many more problems.

But again I am hypersensitive and always have been. I have never been able to tolerate metal anyway and most kids who had braces seemed to cope "ok" or at least as far as I knew. So perhaps Evie too will be ok. But at least you are aware and you can keep an eye on her and see how she goes and have her check herself and how she is feeling.

Tracy, I also got more ill after adding braces to the picture in 1995. You can get plastic braces and retainers. There are plastic braces that look like the metals ones that are stuck to individual teeth and have a wire running through them or you can get something called "Invisilign" braces, which are all plastic. Google it on the internet and you can see them. You can also get invisilign-type retainers, which I have, and avoid metal all together.

Hope this helps,
Gabriella

With regards to deciding what is safest , best or the least harmfull material to use you can get a test called the Melisa Test which indicates allergy & hypersensitivity to metals. Their website is http://www.melisa.org/why-melisa.php . This is a test for allergy NOT toxicity. For Lab locations see http://www.melisa.org/melisa-laboratories.php. This test only recently became available in Australia. I was one of the first to have them done and have had all the available tests done. So you could test to see if Titanium is an issue for instance before making a decision to use it for a retainer .

whenever i try to wear my retainers i feel very angry. then again, it's putting pressure on me and binding my teeth after i've neglected to wear them for a few months. i'm detoxing right now and i don't think its a good idea to wear the retainers, but my teeth are shifting. i just got rid of my braces a few months ago and i don't want to go through the process of getting braces AGAIN and retainers AGAIN and get more toxic crap in my system. im doing a general body detox i suppose and a parasite cleanse. i think i'll start wearing my retainers after i finish this short 1 week detox but i was wondering if it can turn my week of detoxing into a completely useless and unnecessary waste of money after i wear the retainers. i mean the bacteria even after i wash and the toxic crap in it. it's pink. just read above about the mercury in it. i just got rid of my amalgams. i dont want that in me again. the retainers seem to suck out all the mental clarity i gained from the detox and give me a lot of anger. i have to admit though, after starting the detox, i've felt a lot angrier. but with the retainers, the anger is unbearable. on the other hand, if i get through this health problem crap, i don't want to have to reintroduce gunk like the braces and make myself sick again. not to mention the extra money i would have to pay for the braces. this is so stupid and i feel like a fuse snapped in my brain. thinking about this and my hormonal, stomach, family, money, school, health, just makes me want to ugh.

ugh its been half an hour since i took off the retainers. i still have a headache, but less angry. has anybody tried invisalign?