3 Dental TikTok Trends to Avoid if You Want to Maintain a Healthy Smile

Are you on TikTok? Do you tend to try many of the tips or techniques influencers use to take care of their smiles? If so, you could be doing more harm than good to your teeth and gums. Not relying on the proven science or the expertise of a knowledgeable professional can leave you facing serious problems if you’re not careful. Here are 3 dental TikTok trends you should avoid and why it’s better to see your dentist if you want to maintain a healthier smile.

Do-It-Yourself Teeth Whitening

Whether it is using baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or charcoal on your teeth, there’s a very good chance that it’s not being performed correctly. The use of hydrogen peroxide, although it’s found in highly effective teeth whitening products used by professionals, can be dangerous to your teeth and oral tissues if left on too long or used incorrectly. Baking soda is highly abrasive and can weaken tooth enamel. If you combine it with hydrogen peroxide, you may do irreversible damage to your teeth. Charcoal teeth whitening is becoming increasingly popular but can lead to more stains. Why? Because this type of activated charcoal is far more abrasive and will scratch your tooth enamel.

It’s better to seek the help of a professional dentist who can safely administer treatment and uses professional-grade products to produce effective and beautiful whitening results.

Filing Teeth to Make Them Smaller

While this actually sounds quite painful, some TikTok influencers are using nail files to shave down their teeth to create a more even appearance or even make their pearly whites appear smaller. Not only does this simply not sound appealing whatsoever, but it will significantly damage your tooth enamel. Once it’s gone, you cannot get it back. It is better to allow a trusted dentist to recommend safe and effective treatments to help you achieve your desired look. If your teeth are too short, dental bonding can be used to make them appear longer. If you don’t like how long your pearly whites look, a dentist can use appropriate instruments to remove certain parts of your teeth to create a more balanced appearance.

Using Nail Glue to Place “Fangs”

If this one sounds too odd, surprisingly, it’s not. Some TikTok viewers are now following the advice of some video makers who are using nail glue to secure vampire fangs to natural teeth. This one is most popular around Halloween, but no matter the time of year, this is just a bad idea. Containing ingredients that closely match super glue, using this process will result in:

• Damaging your tooth enamel
• Making your teeth more susceptible to tooth decay, cavities, and sensitivity
• Cause damage to your soft oral tissues

Instead of relying on individuals who don’t have a dental background or experience to guide your smile transformation decisions, leave it to the professionals. They can help you look and feel more confident with safe and effective results that work.

About the Author
Dr. Corey Martinez completed his doctorate at the Indiana University School of Dentistry where he became fascinated with endodontics and oral surgery. Offering an array of services to patients in need, he and his team at Martinez Dentistry are here to provide preventive, restorative, and cosmetic treatment that is designed to maintain, repair, restore, and enhance smiles of all types. If you tend to do your own research and look for trends used by influencers, contact us at (765) 724-7729 to let us help explain why it’s better to trust your oral health to our actual professionals.