Social media has taken the world by storm. With so many platforms to choose from, chances are most people are on at least one. In fact, it is estimated that 1.53 billion people have a TikTok account, with just over 1 billion daily active users. With that said, it’s easy to find all kinds of content to suit any interest. From makeup application tips to home organization and workout inspiration, TikTok has seemingly everything you could ever want with information presented in a short, digestible format.
One area of interest on TikTok is oral health. Whether it’s reviews, trends, influencers peddling the newest at-home tooth-whitening products, or even advice from real dentists, sites like TikTok can be an excellent resource for anyone looking for information about oral health care.
The next time you’re scrolling through TikTok, try searching for accounts you like that share interesting and useful information about taking care of your teeth!
One account we particularly like is Dental Digest. In addition to being informative, Dental Digest is a lot of fun, especially for kids. On this channel, the star consumes sweet foods to get his teeth coated in sugar and debris. He then reviews a new brand of toothpaste in each video. He does this by brushing his teeth and then measuring how much sugar was removed with a brushing tablet that colors the teeth purple on spaces that were missed during brushing.
This not only teaches the viewer which toothpastes work best, but it also highlights the importance of brushing for two minutes at a time, at least twice per day. Sugar, as we know, can coat the teeth and attract bacteria that cause cavities, gum disease and bad breath.
There is no shortage of TikTok accounts from dental experts that show you everything from the proper way to brush to which products they use to get gleaming white, healthy smiles. Dentists and orthodontists from all over the world share before and after photos, tips for dental emergencies and flossing tricks to make life easier.
These accounts can be extremely helpful when you have a quick question or just need a little oral health entertainment. After all, who doesn’t love teeth?
But while TikTok has its benefits, it can also have some negative content. There have been many trends on TikTok as of late that are illegal, misinformed and downright dangerous. From how to steal cars to dangerous “challenges” where content creators and influencers try foods not intended for raw consumption, TikTok can sometimes cause more harm than good.
That’s why it’s important to use critical thinking skills or reach out to Dr. Smith and Dr. Juricek if you’re not sure if the information is accurate.
One example of a dangerous oral health trend shared on TikTok is the paperclip braces trend, in which users claim to be straightening their teeth at home with things like paper clips instead of going to a dentist or orthodontist for braces. They claim this trend will save you money, but it can very easily backfire. That’s because the average person trying this trend is not educated in oral health and can damage their teeth and bite during their “treatment.”
Misaligning teeth through treatment by an untrained provider can cause the bite to worsen, causing jaw pain, tooth crowding, and even tooth fractures and breaks. It can also leave teeth more susceptible to cavities by creating crowding where it should not be. To quote the popular phrase, when it comes to DIY orthodontics, don’t try this at home!
Another misleading (but not dangerous) trend we’ve seen are videos of users with shaved-down teeth that they claim are for veneers, but are actually for crowns. While you aren’t in danger of making that mistake yourself in real life, it is misleading to viewers and may influence their treatment decisions negatively for no reason.
It also goes to show how dangerous social media can be when it comes to misinformation. Remember, if you have a question about any oral health topic, including procedures like braces, veneers, crowns or even something as simple as best practices for your daily oral health routine, your safest bet is to reach out to our team for clarification. Don’t take complicated procedures into your own hands, and don’t rely on influencer misinformation to buy expensive products or to determine whether you want a dental procedure.