TikTok and Viral ‘Dental Hacks’

TikTok – a video-sharing platform very much in its infancy – is a weirdly wonderful place for the most part. It provides us with belly-clenching humour and inspires us with its creativity. Sometimes, though, that creativity veers into the realm of poor and ultimately dangerous advice. The continued search for ‘life hacks’ – ways of making arduous or expensive activities easier or cheaper – has found its way into the sphere of dentistry. Often these ‘dental hacks’ show short-term outcomes without consideration for the long-term effects. We would hope that most people would see the inherent risk of performing any of these, but it’s always useful to arm yourself with information in case you come across someone who doesn’t see it that way.

We’ve selected three of the most common ‘dental hacks’ that you may find on TikTok, and explain why these either are dangerous or ultimately don’t work.

Teeth whitening

Out of all the ‘dental hacks’, it is somewhat understandable why this one exists. If you could find a quick way to whiten your teeth, and you could use everyday ingredients to do it, it would be tempting – right? Some of the whitening ‘tricks’ use a combination of baking powder/turmeric/charcoal and they’ve become popular because you can see immediate results. However, many dentists have pointed out that these ingredients are not whitening your teeth for the reasons you think they are.

Whether it’s baking powder, turmeric, or charcoal, they are all acting as a form of abrasion on your teeth. So what’s actually happening? In essence, you’re stripping layers of enamel from your teeth to reveal an unstained layer of enamel. With continued use, your teeth will become weak and thin; in fact, the thinner your teeth are, the more dentine will shine through, giving your teeth the yellow appearance you were trying to avoid!

Another type of ‘hack’ holds slightly more credibility but is not without its risks. Some people have noticed that hydrogen peroxide is the key ingredient for whitening products. As a result, have chosen to make their own type of whitening rinse. Most of them use a 3% hydrogen peroxide fluid and swish it around their mouth, which does whiten their teeth without removing layers of enamel, but it’s also not nearly as effective as the alternatives: brushing your teeth twice a day with whitening toothpaste; using whitening strips or trays; or having them professionally whitened by a dentist. The other downside of using the hydrogen peroxide rinse is that, since it doesn’t only target your teeth, it can lead to ‘hairy tongue’ with continued use.

Teeth filing

A more alarming dental hacks sees people filing down their teeth (with nail files!) to make the bottom of their teeth less curved or pointy. Dentists are trained to file down teeth, paying close attention to the amount of enamel each patient has to ensure that they do not take too much away and avoid opening your teeth up to sensitivity. At its extreme, filing down too much of the enamel layer can lead to exposing the nerve. Please talk to your dentist about how they can help you achieve your perfect smile.

Another related trend on TikTok (not a hack, but nevertheless relevant to this discussion) is that people of younger and younger ages are having their teeth extensively filed – the result earning the name ‘turkey teeth’ – to have veneers or crowns put in. It appears to be an aesthetic choice, rather than driven by any medical need; the difficulty here is that crowns and veneers require replacements, which requires more filing. If these patients have had the ‘turkey teeth’ treatment, they run the risk of needing dentures far sooner because of the over-preparation for their initial crowns and veneers.

It’s not only an expensive series of treatments, but it’s also entirely unnecessary. If you have perfectly healthy teeth, there is no reason to have veneers or crowns; if you’re looking to have a straight, white smile, it is worth looking into professional whitening and orthodontic treatments. These will provide you with the same results, without the irreversible changes to your natural teeth.

Orthodontics

Speaking of orthodontic treatment, there have been a few videos on TikTok showing people removing their braces themselves. We felt it was important to remind people that this is incredibly unsafe; you should not attempt to remove your braces under any circumstances. If not done correctly, there is a danger of your teeth snapping under the pressure. Even if you do manage to take them off, a professional will still need to remove the glue that remains. Again, don’t think about filing your own teeth!

Huge thanks to George Bartlett for fact-checking the clinical aspects of this piece.