Dentists have issued a grim warning to steer clear of trying stylish TikTok “hacks” on their teeth.
Creators behind viral enamel whitening and straightening tips could be putting viewers in severe threat by promoting destructive treatments, prominent Australian dental surgeon Dr. Heath Fraser has argued.
Among the worst offenders was a girl who filmed herself filing down her teeth working with a nail file and promoted the tactic as a low cost way to get a straight smile.
The strange process amassed shut to a million views and was replicated hundreds of instances by other creators certain they weren’t leading to any long-term damage.
Responses to the original post recommended or else even so, with several viewers indicating they ruined their tooth by trying the nail file “hack.”
Dr. Fraser revealed folks who submitted their teeth could be placing on their own up for “invasive techniques this sort of as fillings, crowns, veneers and even root canal procedure to take care of the erosion issue.”
He explained filing enamel as “highly irresponsible” and stated that “once tooth enamel has been eradicated it is unattainable to regenerate.”
“Even when done in the dental chair by a professional, patients run the threat of eroding their tooth enamel,” he explained.
Other problematic “hacks” saw tens of millions of TikTok users uncovered to remarkably hazardous teeth whitening strategies involving the use of household cleaners as tooth scrub.
A person online video promoted the use of a Mr. Thoroughly clean Magic Eraser, which is marketed as a item to eliminate tough stains from walls, home furniture and floors.
Dr. Fraser reported there have been tremendous consequences for people today who utilized it on their enamel.
“The Magic Eraser wears down a stained layer of enamel with a very abrasive area, and even though this may well trigger teeth to look to begin with whiter in a small TikTok video clip, the extensive-term implications of sporting down enamel can end result in discolored, delicate and in exceptional scenarios, cracked or chipped tooth,” he discussed.
Concerning opinions to the viral movie came from hundreds of folks who experienced either already tried using the hack or were being intending to give it a go.
“Just did it. No regrets,” one wrote, when another explained: “I experienced wonderful benefits as well.”
Dr. Fraser said favourable final results would be limited-lived, and persons wanting whiter teeth ought to look for TGA accepted methods or talk to their dentist.
A further hazardous technique was using hydrogen peroxide straight on tooth which Dr. Fraser stated posed “irreversible pitfalls to the health and fitness of your teeth.”
“Using large concentrations of hydrogen peroxide on your tooth and gums poses irreversible hazard to the health and fitness of your tooth and can lead to tooth sensitivity, irritated gums and lips,” he claimed.
“While lots of dentists do use the similar bleaching agent, the focus and application is significantly safer when administered by a specialist. Owning whiter teeth does not essentially correlate to healthy tooth.”
Other TikTok people have been promoting the use of uncooked charcoal as a teeth whitening resource, showing off large discrepancies in just before and just after footage.
“Ironically, while initial final results may possibly expose whiter enamel, applying remarkably abrasive surfaces from teeth will have on down enamel and expose the yellow dentine underneath, creating them to forever show up more yellow,” Dr. Fraser mentioned of the hack.
“Charcoal is an exceptionally abrasive surface that can result in a yellow visual appeal and sensitivity in the lengthy operate.”
Users determined to straighten their teeth also shared how they tried employing elastic hair bands in position of braces.
A person TikTok user with 33.3 million followers bought a braces kit online and assembled it himself at dwelling for a movie that has due to the fact been viewed close to 10 million times.
Dr. Fraser condemned the technique and its marketing throughout the app as a safe and productive way to get straight tooth on the low cost.
“Using elastic bands may perhaps get the job done to transfer your teeth, but not in the aesthetic way you most likely drive. The slim, restricted elastic bands utilised by customers on social media can penetrate the gum, severely harmful the smooth tissue in your mouth which may perhaps finally direct to critical irreversible harm, together with your tooth slipping out from the root,” he stated.
“Using poisonous substances and making an attempt to administer your own braces could also lead to severe health and fitness penalties this kind of as significant poisoning and tooth loss.”
