Mum left unable to talk properly after trying DIY dental veneers

Nail file shaping hack 

In one video a woman can be seen saying ‘no’ over and over as she files down her teeth.

She went on to claim the video was shot two years before she uploaded it on TikTok – and she ‘loves her smile’ and hasn’t had any negative side effects from the DIY job.

Dr Fraser looked into the trend and said while people were initially pleased with the results they complained about tooth sensitivity over time.

This is because they wear down the enamel, which ultimately leads to increased tooth decay, discolouration and damage including chips and cracks. 

‘Using any object to intentionally erode the surface of a tooth is highly irresponsible; once tooth enamel has been removed it is impossible to regenerate,’ he said.

‘Even when performed in the dental chair by a professional patients run the risk of eroding their tooth enamel.

‘Patients who try DIY tooth shaping may require invasive procedures such as fillings, crowns, veneers and even root canal treatment to resolve the erosion issue.’

People are using TikTok to share their DIY dental hacks, including filing down their own teeth and using rubber bands to ‘make them straight’ but experts warn it could cause lasting damage

Raw charcoal brushing

Charcoal tooth products have become a phenomenon across a variety of social platforms. 

Many TikTok users have detail their experience using activated charcoal to whiten their teeth, showing significantly brighter before-and-after results. 

But there is a risk of discolouration and damage when used long term, he explained.

‘Ironically, while initial results may reveal whiter teeth, using highly abrasive surfaces against teeth will wear down enamel and expose the yellow dentin underneath, causing them to permanently appear more yellow,’ he said.

Some people have taken to using magic erasers to achieve a pearly white smile – but Dr Fraser says this too will do nothing but destroy your teeth in the long run.

Using a magic eraser 

One video showing off the magic easer trend got 400,000 views in a matter of hours – with dozens of people commenting to say they planned to try the hack at home. 

More commented after testing it out, praising the trick and saying they had ‘no regrets’ about using the eraser on their teeth.

‘Similar to brushing with charcoal brushing, the magic eraser wears down a stained layer of enamel with a highly abrasive surface, and whilst this may cause teeth to appear initially whiter in a short TikTok video, the long-term consequences of wearing down enamel can result in discoloured, sensitive and, in rare cases, cracked or chipped teeth,’ he said.

The next tooth whitening hack is to brush with peroxide.

Brushing with peroxide

This became a huge trend after one TikTok influencer bought the chemical from the supermarket and applied it directly to her teeth.

The woman said the chemical is often found in dentist-approved whitening kits, insinuating it is safe. But Dr Fraser says that’s far from the truth. 

‘Using high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide on your teeth and gums poses irreversible risk to the health of your teeth and can lead to tooth sensitivity, irritated gums and lips,’ he said.

‘Having whiter teeth does not necessarily correlate to healthy teeth, and patients should prioritise the health of their mouths to avoid painful consequences,’ he added.

The final TikTok hack hated by Dr Fraser is DIY braces.

DIY rubber band braces

He understands having straight teeth is a priority for many Australians but says it should always be left to a professional.

Dr Fraser says the rubber band hack has been popular because of the high cost of braces – but adds it will likely cost more in the long run.

One such video showed a man sticking a traditional braces kit to his teeth using Gorilla glue.

The video was seen by more than ten-million people showing how quickly ‘bad information’ can spread on the platform.  

People are using TikTok to share their DIY dental hacks, including filing down their own teeth and using rubber bands to ‘make them straight’ but experts warn it could cause lasting damage

‘The thin, tight elastic bands used by users on social media can penetrate the gum, severely damaging the soft tissue in your mouth which may ultimately lead to serious irreversible damage, including your tooth falling out from the root,’ he said.

And while your teeth will probably move Dr Fraser says the result won’t necessarily be better, aesthetically speaking.

The Gorilla glue is ‘next-level’ according to the dentist. 

‘Using toxic substances and attempting to administer your own braces may also lead to serious health consequences such as severe poisoning and tooth loss,’ he said.