Why I Stopped Taking My Old Magnesium


You might trust your magnesium supplement.

You shouldn’t.

Independent labs have found heavy metals—lead, cadmium, arsenic—in several popular magnesium products.

Small amounts. But dose after dose, they can build up.

I learned that the hard way…

A few years ago, I took a magnesium supplement that looked good—clean label, strong reviews, affordable.

Then I read independent lab results. A similar product from a different brand tested positive for lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury. Not enough to make you sick overnight—but enough to build up over time.

Magnesium is one of the most useful minerals for your body—but only if it’s clean, tested, and well-formulated.

Want to know which magnesium I take?

It’s clean, third-party tested, contains a blend of seven types for bioavailability and better absorption and it’s discounted right now for Prime Day.

Here’s what the science says…

1. Magnesium hardens enamel—if you get enough.

Magnesium is part of enamel.

In lab studies, it changes enamel’s crystal structure and can increase hardness. 

No large trials confirm it yet, but the connection makes sense: magnesium works with calcium and phosphate during remineralization.

Low magnesium slows enamel repair—even with good brushing.

2. It can ease jaw tension, but can’t cure grinding.

If you clench or grind your teeth, magnesium may help indirectly.

It supports muscle relaxation and nerve balance.

That can reduce jaw tension, though research doesn’t show it stops bruxism.

Pair it with an AADSM dentist, better sleep, and lower stress.

3. Better magnesium, better sleep, better gums.

Poor sleep increases inflammation and slows gum healing.

Magnesium helps regulate melatonin and cortisol.

Several studies show it improves sleep quality and heart rate variability.

Better sleep means faster gum recovery.

4. Magnesium calms inflammation and supports your oral microbiome

Low magnesium raises systemic inflammation and worsens blood sugar control—both drive gum disease.

It also supports immune balance, helping your body handle bacterial stress in the mouth.

The magnesium–microbiome link isn’t fully mapped, but evidence already shows one thing clearly:

More magnesium, less inflammation.

5. Why You Might Be Low

Even healthy eaters often don’t get enough.

Soil depletion lowers magnesium in produce

Stress, alcohol, caffeine, and some drugs increase magnesium loss

Magnesium oxide is poorly absorbed

USDA data show nearly half of U.S. adults fall short on magnesium intake.

That’s not deficiency—but it’s not optimal either.

Low magnesium can show up as fatigue, jaw tension, restless legs, or inflamed gums.

6. How to choose magnesium that’s actually safe

Use the same standards I have used for my patients and myself.

Look for:

Third-party testing

Batch-specific Certificates of Analysis

Clear labeling of forms and doses

Testing for heavy metals, microbes, solvents, and pesticides

GMP or ISO-certified manufacturing

If a brand can’t show proof of testing, move on.

Magnesium is one of the most impactful, low-risk nutrients I’ve seen in decades of clinical practice. It supports sleep, muscle balance, gum health, and enamel repair.

But purity matters.

Your supplement should strengthen you—not add to your toxic load.

—Dr. Mark Burhenne

P.S. This is the magnesium I take and recommend. It’s on sale right now for Amazon Prime Day, which is when I like to stock up every year. My wife and I take 500mg daily, about 1-2 hours before bed.

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