FDA: Don't Worry About Mercury in Teeth

Good news for anyone with mercury fillings in their chompers: The Food and Drug Administration declared on Tuesday that the amount of mercury in amalgam fillings isn't enough to worry about them causing health problems, the Associated Press reports.

The issue has been in debate for several years, with activists saying the fillings could harm young children and unborn infants (whose mothers get the fillings).

The FDA has reviewed 200 studies and have ruled that the fillings are safe and that the amount of mercury vapor they release isn't harmful, unless you happen to be allergic to mercury.

Forms of mercury in other products can be harmful to humans, causing significant brain damage if the amounts are high enough. Scientists caution against eating large amounts of seafood that contain mercury from environmental pollution.

The silvery liquid is also found in compact flourescent lightbulbs, a type of lighting touted as more energy-efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs. Improper disposal of the bulbs can leak mercury into the environment, and people should be careful in handling broken bulbs.