We’ve said it before, and we’ll probably say it again: at home dentistry is a dangerous idea. But despite this fact, dentists across the country have noticed a disturbing rise in do-it-yourself dentistry, and it’s having costly and painful side effects.
Do it yourself dentistry has skyrocketed in recent years thanks to social media influencers peddling at home whitening kits, tooth scrapers, and even braces-by-mail. But while they seem to work for the famous TikTok celebrities and YouTubers, they aren’t always so effective when the average consumer gets them home.
Take at home whitening kits, for example. For starters, some of these kits have been found to be counterfeit meaning they may not have any effect on your teeth at all. On the other end of the spectrum, some of these kits can contain dangerous levels of peroxide, which can permanently damage tooth enamel, make teeth brittle, and injure the gums, making them susceptible to infection.
This is because some of these do-it-yourself kits are largely unregulated, making them dangerous for teeth.
Next, dental scrapers have become a trend lately. Kind of like the scrapers your dentist uses to clean buildup from your teeth, at-home dental scrapers are instruments used to give you a whiter-looking smile. Unfortunately, they can also cause damage to the teeth and gums, scraping enamel and causing cuts and tears in the gums which can lead to gum infections.
While we still recommend tooth scrapers, we only recommend them for trained dental professionals in the use of a licensed dental practice like Dr. Abelar’s.
Finally, we’ve mentioned this in our blogs before, but it bears repeating. Do-it-yourself braces are simply a bad idea. These so-called more affordable options for straightening teeth can actually worsen your bite, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
At-home braces can cause everything from loose teeth to lost teeth, both of which are permanent, and will usually require dental intervention. In fact, a whopping 74 percent of people who tried at-home dental care needed to visit a dentist in person following their at-home treatment because of issues that were caused by that treatment! So much for saving money!
If you’d like a whiter brighter smile, start with Dr. Abelar. Schedule a cleaning by our trained staff, and get a consultation for in-office, professional whitening. If you are unhappy with your bite or the straightness of your teeth, call the office and schedule a consultation for your orthodontic options. It will save your teeth, your time, and your money!
