If you see a cool dental hack on social media, you might want to think twice before trying it. Dentists have been warning against do-it-yourself dental tips found on apps such as TikTok for years.
For example, one TikTok video from December with more than 25,000 likes features a woman offering tips on how to make DIY aligners for teeth grinding. Another video from 2021 shows a woman making false teeth out of InstaMorph beads.
Both cite expensive dental care costs as the reason they turned to DIY alternatives. Though their hacks may help save money, they could be dangerous.
A report released by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health last June indicated that there are 77 million American adults who don’t have dental insurance.
“Not enough dentists, too expensive, whole regions don’t have them,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) in a Wednesday interview with the Kaiser Health Network regarding his dream of Medicare for all.
DIY dentistry has been an issue outside the U.S. as well.
“Dentists have warned against ordering braces online after people’s teeth have been damaged by so-called DIY dentistry,” reported the Evening Standard in the U.K. last month.
Dr. Vanessa Creaven, a dentist and co-founder of Spotlight Oral Care, explained the risks of using InstaMorph – a reusable plastic mold intended for DIY crafts – to make dentures or false teeth, according to Business Insider.
“Using something like microbeads is not hygienic,” Creaven said. “It will result in food, bacteria, and plaque getting caught around it and around the teeth nearby.”
She also said the material could cause gum inflammation “which can lead to permanent recession and bone loss leaving the area very difficult to ever restore in a way that looks aesthetically pleasing.”
Last October, the #DIYdentist hashtag on TikTok had 2.6 million views. As of Wednesday night, it had 3.1 million.
According to the Kaiser Health Network, “people have been styling their teeth for centuries across the globe.” Just this week, LiveScience reported on remains of a 17th century French aristocrat woman found with gold wires on her teeth. Experts said those wires were likely painful and could have made the periodontal disease she suffered from worse.
“Some DIY dental health fads, like oil pulling for example, are just not effective,” said ADA dentist Dr. Matthew Messina, according to MouthHealthy. He said others, including a social media trend that encourages whitening with charcoal, could be harmful.
Others, however, could cause damage. DIY whitening with charcoal – a popular trend on social media – can cause more harm than good, Messina warned.
In January, the Dallas Morning News reported that “a new wave of TikTok trends” had dentists concerned yet again. These included tutorials on how to make your own veneers and tips for prying off braces with a spoon.
“Some TikTokers who regret doing DIY dental work are speaking out, too, including one woman who said she was in such bad pain after trying to straighten her teeth with a nail file that she had to go see the dentist anyway,” according to the outlet.
“People who consider DIY are usually looking for answers but don’t have a dentist they can speak with,” said Messina. “Before considering any dental DIY service, people should seek out answers from a local dentist who can examine their mouth and offer suggestions.”
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