As we scroll through social media, one of the most common things we hear and see nowadays, something called trends. Trends are when one person (or a group of people) does an act, and when it goes viral on social media, everyone else joins in to do the same thing or some even takes it up a notch. They’re usually fun to watch or participate in sometimes. Here’s the thing, it can also be dangerous, and sometimes (most times) information shared is not as accurate as we wish it were. Not to waste more of your time, here are trends that could destroy your teeth.
Nail Filing teeth (teeth shaving)
There’s this new trend coming up on TikTok where people would use a nail file to file their teeth with the main goal to align them. We immediately went “NOPE!” when we saw this video. This trend is stripping your teeth of enamel – a strong protective layer that keeps your dentin, pulp, and blood vessels from acids and bacterial plaque when exposed to foods. There is no ‘growing back’ your enamel once they’re gone. Sadly a thin enamel escalates the risk of increased sensitivity and pain, tooth fracture, infection and other dental issues that could develop later on. Aside from that, you would also have expensive dental bills from fixing any damage that’s been done, such as crowning or fillings.
White Strips
Once a more affordable alternative to tooth whitening, recent studies find that the hydrogen peroxide (the active whitening ingredient) in white strips can penetrate the enamel. This as a result destroys the dentin within, rendering it weak. It is unsure if the damaged dentin could be re-strengthen. As of now, we advise you to avoid using white strips unless you have professional guidance. Here at Stamford Dental Spa, we offer in-office teeth whitening which is safe, simple, pain-free, and one of the fastest ways to improve the beauty of your smile.
Nail-Glue Vampire Fangs
Nowadays it’s all about the hyper-realistic look. An in-trend that caught the attention of many young people involves using nail adhesive, which contains similar ingredients to super glue, to attach vampire fangs to their teeth. One video of the trend has over one million likes! Don’t get us wrong, we dig the look. According to dental professionals, “nail glue can strip off the enamel of your teeth, which can increase the chance of getting cavities and cause sensitivity.” The powerful glue can also damage your gums. This trend is very unsafe. If you’ve tried this trend and are worried about how to remove the glue, visit your local dentist. They can help you remove it with less damage and can also place artificial fangs for you, risk-free!
At-home teeth bleaching
With over 2.7 million views on a video of a TikToker created a new trend in which a tiny cotton ball is dipped into a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and brushes the swab on her teeth to bleach them to achieve a dazzling smile. This practice is very risky and will most likely damage your teeth and gums. For this reason, it is not advisable to use it as a rinse at home. If you would like to whiten your teeth, visit a local dental care. It is safer to do it that way and you can avoid the risk of damaging your teeth.
Trends are all fun and games until they start damaging your body. Like most people nowadays we enjoy being part of trends or just watching them online. To tie things up, always check the information that you might find online, and ask your dentist for the best, safest way to achieve the goal that you have in mind.