The five DIY dental hacks you should NEVER try
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A dentist has labeled some of TikTok’s most popular DIY dental hacks as dangerous, claiming that many of them will ruin your smile.
From filing your teeth into ‘perfect’ shape to using a magic eraser to remove stubborn stains, there seems to be a hack for every cosmetic dental problem.
But most cheap tricks will really ruin your teeth and can cost thousands to fix, experienced dentist Dr. Heath Fraser to FEMAIL.
People are using TikTok to share their DIY dental hacks, including filing their own teeth and using rubber bands to ‘straighten’ them, but experts warn it could cause permanent damage
The Queensland-based company explained that while some of the hacks have been around for a long time, the fact that they are now being broadcast over TikTok is worrying.
“With over a billion active monthly users, many of whom are young and impressionable, TikTok has tremendously influential reach over the minds and decision-making behavior of its audience,” he said.
In recent years, dental health trends have been posted on the platform and viewed by millions of users: these include whitening teeth with toxic cleaning products, shaping teeth and encouraging users to self-treat cosmetic procedures. after seeing ‘great’ aesthetic results from other users of the app,” he said.
Adding to that, anyone who follows the trends is not only putting their smile on the line, but in many cases their overall health as well.
dr. Fraser has been in the dental industry for over 15 years and wants people to understand that treatments used in clinics are thoroughly tested and constantly updated to ensure they are safe and effective.
They are also performed by highly trained medical professionals.
dr. Heath Fraser, pictured, told FEMAIL that the top five DIY trends on TikTok are dangerous and will lead to huge problems
The trending TikTok hacks, which include using a nail file to get the desired tooth shape, are not.
Nail file shaping hack
One video shows a woman saying “no” over and over again while filing her teeth.
She went on to claim that the video was shot two years before she uploaded it to TikTok — and she “loves her smile” and hasn’t had any negative side effects from the DIY job.
dr. Fraser examined the trend and said that while people were initially pleased with the results, they complained of tooth sensitivity over time.
This is because they wear down the enamel, eventually leading to more tooth decay, discoloration and damage, including flaking and cracking.
‘It is highly irresponsible to use an object to intentionally erode the surface of a tooth; once the tooth enamel is removed, it is impossible to regenerate,” he said,
Using the TikTok hacks is likely to lead to serious dental problems in the long run – including permanently discolored and cracked teeth
“Even when performed in the dental chair by a professional dentist, patients run the risk of damaging their tooth enamel.
“Patients attempting dental molding themselves may need invasive procedures such as fillings, crowns, veneers and even root canals to solve the erosion problem.”
Brushing raw charcoal
Charcoal tooth products have become a phenomenon on various social platforms.
Many TikTok users have detailed their experience using activated charcoal to whiten their teeth, with significantly brighter before and after results.
But with prolonged use, there is a risk of discoloration and damage, he explains.
“Ironically, while early results may reveal whiter teeth, using highly abrasive surfaces against teeth will wear down the enamel and expose the yellow dentin beneath, making them appear permanently yellower,” he said.
Some people have used magic erasers to get a pearly white smile — but Dr. Fraser says this too will do nothing but destroy your teeth in the long run.
Using a Magic Eraser
One video showing the magic easing trend was viewed 400,000 times within hours — with dozens of people saying they planned to try the hack at home.
dr. Fraser said using something like a magic eraser seems to work, but leads to yellowness in the long run
More commented after testing, praising the trick and saying they “didn’t regret” using the eraser on their teeth.
Similar to brushing with charcoal brushes, the magic eraser wears off a stained enamel layer with a very abrasive surface, and while this can cause teeth to appear whiter initially in a short TikTok video, the long-term consequences of wearing down the enamel can result in discolored, sensitive and, in rare cases, cracked or chipped teeth,” he said.
The next teeth whitening hack is peroxide brushing.
Brushing with peroxide
This became a huge trend after a TikTok influencer bought the chemical from the supermarket and applied it directly to her teeth.
The woman said the chemical is often found in dentist-approved whitening kits, insinuating that it is safe. But Dr Fraser says that’s far from true.
“Using high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide on your teeth and gums poses an irreversible risk to the health of your teeth and can lead to sensitive teeth, irritated gums and lips,” he said.
“Having whiter teeth does not necessarily correlate with healthy teeth, and patients should prioritize the health of their mouths to avoid painful consequences,” he added.
The latest TikTok hack created by Dr. Fraser is hated, his DIY braces.
Homemade rubber bands braces
He understands that straight teeth are a priority for many Australians, but says this should always be left to a professional.
dr. Fraser says the rubber band hack has been popular due to the high cost of braces, but adds that it will likely cost more in the long run.
One of those videos showed a man sticking a traditional braces kit to his teeth using Gorilla glue.
The video was seen by more than ten million people and showed how quickly ‘bad information’ can spread on the platform.
Some people use DIY braces kits — but Dr. Fraser says these kits are only effective when used by a professional — and should never be attached with Gorilla glue
“The thin, tight elastic bands used by users on social media can penetrate the gums and severely damage the soft tissue in your mouth, eventually leading to serious irreversible damage, including the loss of your tooth from the root,” he said.
And while your teeth will likely move, Dr. Fraser that the result will not necessarily be better aesthetically.
The Gorilla glue is ‘next-level’ according to the dentist.
“Using toxic substances and trying to administer your own braces can also lead to serious health consequences, such as severe poisoning and tooth loss,” he said.
Dr Fraser also has a dental comparison network, AirSmilea platform where people can compare dentists in their area to find one that suits their needs.