The social media platform TikTok is becoming increasingly popular, though dental professionals are warning users about “dental hacks” that are being promoted on the platform. Instead of being helpful, these “hacks” are actually dangerous, and can lead to long-term oral health problems.
The social media platform TikTok continues to grow in popularity, with its user base growing exponentially in recent months.
While much of the content on TikTok is light-hearted, comedic or heart-warming, there is also a dark side to the platform.
Recently, concerns have been raised over DIY “dental hacks” that have been circulating on TikTok. These “hacks” address issues such as trying to whiten teeth, remove gaps between teeth, and even attempts to fix uneven teeth.
These are all problems that can only be properly addressed by a dental professional. However, with many users actively trying out these techniques, it seems there is a general lack of awareness of the damage such “hacks” can do.
Now, due to a surge in interest in these videos, oral health professionals are warning that impressionable youngsters, and even adults, are at risk of doing more harm than good to their oral health, should they engage in some of these “hacks”.
What is TikTok?
For those that aren’t aware, TikTok is a social media platform – primarily used as an app on a smartphone – that lets its users upload short videos, which are then liked, commented on and shared by its users.
In 2020 alone, the app was downloaded more than 315 million times, while other statistics show that there are over 65million monthly TikTok users in the US alone [1].
The platform has proven to be most popular with teenagers, however the app has done harm, as well as good. Social media has been criticised for promoting unrealistic body types, and TikTok appears to have negatively affected the self-esteem and mental wellbeing of many teenagers [2].
Due to the supposed importance of achieving a “perfect” body image (including the appearance of teeth), many resort to trying dangerous things to try and attain such looks. As the 11-19 age range typically doesn’t have the money needed to get professional treatment, they resort to “hacks” to try and get the same result.
The “Dental Hacks”
TikTok is full of what is referred to as “dental hacks”. A simple search of that term brings up thousands of videos, many of which show actions that promise to address tooth problems, but that actually risk serious harm.
These “hacks” are produced by users that are far from dental professionals. Rather, they are unlicensed, everyday people, whose impressionable “followers” then copy them.
These users provide “advice” or “guidance” to users, whilst promising excellent results in terms of the appearance of their teeth. But in actual fact, these “hacks” are dangerous.
Among the “dental hacks” that have gained the most interest are:
• Teeth whitening through peroxide: Hydrogen peroxide has long been linked with improving the color of our teeth [3]. However, hydrogen peroxide is mainly used as a bleaching agent, as an antiseptic or disinfectant, and in fertilisers. When hydrogen peroxide comes into contact with the mouth, it irritates the gums, and can make our teeth more sensitive. Worryingly, the most viewed videos show users mixing 3% hydrogen peroxide with water. To put this into perspective, in the United Kingdom, the legal limit of over-the-counter solutions of hydrogen peroxide is 0.1%. Solutions of 3% hydrogen peroxide are incredibly strong, and can cause serious damage to the teeth and gums. Other tooth whitening “hacks” seen on TikTok include brushing teeth with bleach or even using Mr. Clean Magic Eraser sponges – which contain harmful chemicals. – on the teeth.
• Nail filing teeth: One of the most concerning trends on TikTok shows various users using a nail file to even out their teeth, This is done in an apparent effort to make their teeth look straighter. Worryingly, teeth will not grow back after being filed. A nail file should never be used on teeth, as it can introduce harmful bacteria to the mouth. Furthermore, it is known to damage enamel, which is what protects our teeth from pain, cavities and discoloration [4]. Consistent use of a nail file will expose the nerve of the tooth, which can cause excruciating pain and long-term damage.
• Closing gaps between the teeth: Another popular video shows a user displaying how she was supposedly able to close a gap between her two front teeth. She apparently used rubber bands to push her teeth together. But this is actually a dangerous thing to do, with again this trend risking damage to the mouth, with the bones around the teeth becoming impacted by such actions.
• Plaque scraping: Whenever a person visits the dentist, one of the most common things that a dentist will do is use a plaque scraper – also known as a dental scaler – in order to remove plaque and tartar from teeth. Removing plaque helps to stop tooth decay and improves the health of gums. However, plaque scraping is not something that should be done at home, rather, it should only be done in the confines of a dental clinic by qualified staff. It takes proper training to know how to use these scrapers properly, something that is taught at dental school. They are sharp tools, and incorrect use can result in permanent damage to the gum tissue, or trauma to the cheeks or tongue.
• Flossing with hair: While flossing is an important part of good oral hygiene, flossing appliances are specifically designed in order to achieve their goal of getting rid of plaque between teeth. While some may argue that hair works just as well for flossing, it is actually very risky, as it can cause trauma to the mouth, or irritate the gums.
Dental professionals’ warning
Understandably, the rise in interest in these trends have concerned oral professionals, who face having to treat those who have affected their oral health as a result of engaging in such trends.
Dr. Amber Bonnaig, of DentaQuest, is among those to be concerned. She has stated that the “makeshift dental hacks are really concerning and send the exact wrong message to kids about how to care for your teeth” [5].
Bonnaig goes on to say that “performing your own dental treatments – particularly like some of these TikTok videos – can cause significant, long-lasting damage to your mouth and teeth, as well as your overall health” [5].
Meanwhile, the Oral Health Foundation released a statement a few months ago where they mentioned that they were “extremely concerned” for the health and safety of TikTok users, due to the high amount of DIY dental advice on the app [6].
What can parents do?
It is important for parents to maintain regular communication with their children, especially as they navigate through their teenage years, where they are very impressionable, and vulnerable to outside influence.
Ultimately, safe “dental hacks” don’t exist. The only way to truly protect our teeth and maintain strong oral health is to engage in excellent oral hygiene.
This includes brushing our teeth at least twice a day, flossing regularly, and getting a dental check-up at least twice a year. Avoiding sugary foods and drink, and not smoking also helps.
It is important for any potential oral problems to be addressed early. By attending regular check-ups, any oral problems can be addressed quickly. This helps to prevent more intense pain later on, if any dental problems are left untreated.
Parents can help their children to avoid such “hacks” by promoting oral hygiene from a young age, and discussing such “hacks” with their children, and educating them on the consequences of such trends.
What we can offer at Savanna Dental
At Savanna Dental, we offer our patients a wide range of services and treatments, allowing us to treat a plethora of dental conditions. We do our utmost to ensure that our patients receive a comfortable and caring experience when visiting us.
Our dental clinic is based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We offer services like regular check-ups, cavity fillings, root canals, dentures, and even some cosmetic services such as tooth whitening.
Following a routine check-up, if further treatment is required, we provide our patients with a clear treatment plan, and give them a voice in any decisions made.
Our Calgary based dental practice Savanna Dental also follows the Alberta Dental Fee Guide, which means our prices are competitive, transparent and affordable.
If you need dental advice, our team at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental will be able to help. This can include advice on treating bad breath, gum disease, the effect our diet has on our oral health, and any other dentistry-related guidance.
Each of the videos outlined above promise to treat common “problems”, only without the hefty price tag. But as we have shown in this article, these “dental hacks” can cause significant harm.
In fact, all of the areas outlined do have fixes. For instance, tooth whitening is a cosmetic form of dentistry that people can purchase, while instead of filing teeth to make them appear straighter, braces or even veneers can produce the same effect, only that they are also far safer.
If anything does go wrong, a qualified dental professional will be able to step in and help – something that will not be the case when a person becomes involved in a dental emergency at their home.
Summary
DIY “dental hacks” are nothing new, and everyone in dentistry is well aware of how the prices of treatment can put people off – which unfortunately makes these low-cost hacks all the more appealing.
However, they can do serious damage, and it is always best to leave any oral treatment to dental professionals, who have gone through significant training in order to effectively treat dental problems.
Whether it is for a regular check-up, advice or treatment, we hope you visit our Calgary-based dental clinic Savanna Dental! You can read more about us on our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca, and see more about what we offer our patients. We would love to see you visit our clinic soon!
- [1] Statista. (2021). Statistics and facts about TikTok. Available: https://www.statista.com/topics/6077/tiktok/. Last accessed: 14th August 2021.
- [2] Nesi, J. (2020). The Impact of Social Media on Youth Mental Health. North Carolina Medical Journal. 81(2), p116-121.
- [3] Tredwin, C. J., Naik, S., Lewis, N. J., & Scully, C. (2006). Hydrogen peroxide tooth-whitening (bleaching) products: Review of adverse effects and safety issues. British Dental Journal. 200(1), p371-376.
- [4] NHS. (2019). Tooth decay. Available: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tooth-decay/. Last accessed: 14th August 2021.
- [5] DentaQuest. (2021). Parents, kids warned against viral “dental hacks” on TikTok. Available: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/08/05/2275758/0/en/Parents-kids-warned-against-viral-dental-hacks-on-TikTok.html. Last accessed: 14th August 2021.
- [6] Oral Health Foundation. (2020). Charity alarmed by latest batch of dangerous DIY dental hacks to come out of TikTok. Available: https://www.dentalhealth.org/news/charity-alarmed-by-latest-batch-of-dangerous-diy-dental-hacks-to-come-out-of-tiktok. Last accessed: 14th August 2021.
