Teachers often struggle to excite students about geology, with most young people in today's technology-driven society being unfamiliar with rocks and minerals. Discussions centered on medical geology, the science that studies the link between normal environmental factors and geographical distribution of health problems, may help bridge the gap. Medical geologists work to determine proper exposure levels for humans in regard to essential minerals. It is the right dosage that differentiates between a poison and a remedy. One example of this is Fluoride. In the United States it is added to public water systems in low concentrations to promote dental health. On the other hand, children in tropical regions, such as Sri Lanka, may be exposed to fluoride concentrations in drinking water in excess of 1.5 mg/L. The result is dental fluorosis, a dark brown coloration and mottling of the teeth. On the other hand, too little of an essential mineral can be harmful. About 30% of the world's population is at risk of iodine deficiency disorder (IDD), the most common cause of brain damage and mental retardation. As with dental fluorosis, tropical populations are the most at risk, in part due to their distance from the sea and the iodide it contains. Among the many other issues medical geologists are looking to unravel are: (1) Geophagy, the deliberate consumption of earthy materials such as clay and minerals, which is most common in pregnant women in tropical populations; (2) New compounds being identified in the extract of soil bacteria fermentation in the search for new anti-inflammatory drugs; and (3) The fate of Tetracyclines being administered to livestock not to fight infection, but rather to promote animal growth. Since they are poorly absorbed, the majority of the dosage is excreted, and can accumulate in soil, which can negatively impact beneficial microorganisms in soil and water. Students should be made aware of these and other intriguing issues, and encouraged to pursue the training and education necessary to participate in further investigations and solutions.