In the age of DIY and at-home hacks, which are commonly the subject of viral TikTok trends, users are finding new ways to care for their teeth without heading into the office, including tricks for teeth filing, drilling, repairing, and even kits for applying tooth gems—but dentists are warning that these at-home shortcuts could cause more trouble than they’re worth. Even when applied correctly, tooth gems “are adding something to your teeth that will also attract bacteria,” Dr. Sahota explained to the publication. “You’re increasing your risk of cavities, of gum infections. And you’re increasing your risk of chipped teeth, of inflammation inside your mouth.” Teeth filing has also become a popular practice to do at home, with users often showing the process of filing their own teeth with nail files or other objects around their house, which Dr. Sahota strongly discourages. “I just don’t know how (they) could do it safely,” she said, noting, “When we practice dentistry, we do it with the background information of years of training, X-rays, and the experience that helps us decide when and how to do the treatment.” Dr. Sahota also mentioned the DIY concoctions to help whiten their teeth, saying, “Patients have been drinking or swishing with lemon water, or maybe apple cider vinegar, and that has caused acid or erosions on their teeth.” She continued, “The patients will say, ‘Oh, yeah, you know, I saw online that, you know, this will be better for my health. And so I’ve been doing it every night.’ That’s when I’ll bring a mirror and show them exactly what the effect of that trend has made on your teeth.” Another dentist, Dr. Suhail Mohiuddin, reacted to one of the DIY videos on TikTok about replacing missing teeth at home. Instead, he suggested seeing your dentist, who can make you a temporary retainer that holds a fake tooth that you can wear while you find a more permanent solution. While he named implants as the most effective solution, he also acknowledged that they are the most expensive option. Since low costs are often the driver of DIY options, Dr. Mohiuddin even invited some of his TikTok viewers to visit his practice in Chicago, where he offered to help make them temporary solutions “at no cost.” Dr. Sahota also discussed cost in her conversation with KHN, insisting that shortcuts might actually cost more in the long run and suggesting people visit the Mouth Healthy site to find ways to safely better their smiles. More News:
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