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Beware Of Social Media Dental Tips!

2020 October 19
by admin

However well intentioned, amateur dental advice could ruin your teeth

We have issued words of caution in the past about DIY dentistry. There is certainly no shortage of suggestions on ways to whiten your teeth or even straighten them using elastic bands! In some ways, some of these seem so extreme that you would struggle to imagine anyone trying them, but the reality is that some do, probably especially within the younger generation.

There have been a couple of new ones recently on the increasingly popular Tiktok platform which have hit the headlines. Hopefully our Ashby and Burton patients wouldn’t attempt these but, just in case, Alexandra Dental Care offers our thoughts on them below.

Filing down of teeth

A teenager who was unhappy with her teeth being uneven at the edges, decided that rather than see a dentist to determine what to do about it, she would try to correct this herself using a nail file.  Having ‘successfully’ achieved this, she posted it on the social media platform and the post became widely popular and equally widely condemned by dentists.

You mighty wonder what could go wrong if you are just filing down a few rough edges from the bottom of your teeth? Well, quite a lot actually.

Your teeth are not a solid block of enamel and once you have worn away the hard enamel layer, there is a softer part of the tooth underneath. This part, known as dentin, is porous and once exposed can be affected by bacteria, eventually leading to tooth decay and even root canal infections. There is also every chance that anyone doing this will notice an increase in sensitivity, often a painful one, when they eat or drink hot or cold food and drinks.

If you really are unhappy with the appearance of your teeth, even what might seem a minor issue such as this, please never try to do anything about it yourself. The staff at Alexandra Dental Care will be only too happy to offer their professional advice.

Flossing with your hair!

Yes, you read that right; some users of Tiktok have been recommending that if you don’t have any dental floss handy, you simply pull a strand or two of hair from your head and use that instead. Whilst that might not be possible for the more ‘follicly challenged’ amongst us; even those who have long healthy hair should not do this.

Whilst there is the possibility of transferring bacteria from your hair to your gums, the bigger risk perhaps comes from the fact that hair is very fine and is likely to cut into your gums, potentially causing infections. In addition to this, it isn’t designed to clean food and bacteria from between your teeth and the gums and is not likely to be fully effective. If this is your main method of flossing then there is a significant risk that you will suffer from gum disease.

Nothing beats dental floss for cleaning the area between your teeth and the gum line. It is cheap to buy and, with a little practice, can be done in just a short time. Our hygienist will be happy to show you how, if you find it difficult, when you next have an appointment with them.

On that subject, if you don’t already, we strongly recommend that our Burton, Swadlincote and Ashby patients do see the hygienist every six months to have a scale and polish. Although flossing is essential for good oral health, any hardened bacteria can only be removed professionally by a hygienist. This will help you to keep your mouth healthy and avoid problems such as  gingivitis and periodontitis.

In summary then, please ignore dental tips on social media or, at the very least, check with your dentist whether they are safe and effective (hint: they rarely are). Make sure that you have a six monthly check up too so that we can monitor your oral health on an ongoing basis. To make an appointment at Alexandra Dental Care, please call us on 01283 216347.

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