Filing Your Own Teeth & Other Dangerous Social Media Trends

September 24, 2022

Some patients will go to great lengths to get an ideal smile, and it’s something that your dentist in Austin is happy to help with. There are plenty of different treatments available to transform any smile safely and effectively. But unfortunately, there are also plenty of dangerous social media trends claiming to easily, quickly, and affordably change the look of your teeth. These trends should be avoided at all costs to avoid damaging your teeth, sometimes permanently.

Filing Your Teeth

One of the most dangerous social media trends involves people filing down their own teeth into teeny tiny pegs with the hope of topping them off with beautiful veneers. This is known as the “veneers check” trend, and it’s incredibly dangerous, not to mention probably very uncomfortable. The truth is, if you go to your dentist in Austin for veneers, they will not file your teeth into sharp points. There is no need to remove that much healthy tooth enamel for dental veneer treatment. Additionally, filing your own teeth can cause irreversible damage and may require unwanted dental restorations such as dentures.

Do-It-Yourself Orthodontics

Everyone wants that perfectly straight smile, and sometimes orthodontic treatment such as braces or clear aligners will be used to achieve it. But another concerning trend on social media shows users taking regular household items to tighten gaps, shift the positioning of teeth, and to even simply appear as if they have braces. You will not get the results you’re looking for by doing this. In fact, you may cause additional problems such as more overcrowding, jaw pain, and perhaps even tooth loss.

Creating Teeth Using Art Supplies

A dental crown is a custom-created solution to cap a tooth that has had a root canal or to top off a dental implant. It’s often made of high-quality porcelain so it’s impossible to tell a crown from your natural teeth. However, social media has shown thousands of people using arts and crafts supplies to create their own crowns, partial dentures, or to fill in chips or cracks. Nothing should be used in your mouth unless it’s safe, approved by your dentist, and placed by your dentist.

At-Home Whitening

There are hundreds of at-home whitening products available over the counter. While these can be relatively inexpensive and typically safe, you should consult your dentist prior to using them. What’s even more important to note is that you should completely avoid any tooth-whitening trend that requires the mixing of ingredients found in your home. These concoctions are often very acidic and can quickly damage your teeth. The desire to achieve your version of the ideal smile can be achieved by talking with your dentist in Austin. Contact us today to schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation and let’s find the best way to give you the best smile, safely.