It’s no new statement that TikTok is one of the biggest streaming platforms. It has over 1 billion active users in 2022 and an average of 52 minutes spent on the app per day.
Video content is becoming the most popular form of gathering information. What’s more, you don’t need a big budget to make your videos reach a large audience. If you make your video entertaining, it is likely to be engaged with. After all, the most popular short clips on TikTok are usually filmed on a mobile device.
When a trend becomes known, it is usually shared around and ‘dueted’ by many other users. The trend will then gain momentum as other people test it to see if it works. Meaning the information from that video is shared around at a fast pace.
The problem with the app and the videos shared is that the creators can post unsolicited advice. This is subsequently passed around to a younger or unknowing audience, leading to potentially dangerous misinformation being spread.
Let’s look at some examples of the latest TikTok trends that are harmful to your oral health.
Hydrogen peroxide trend
First of all, for those of you that don’t know what the hydrogen peroxide trend is, let us explain. This viral trend sees users putting 3% hydrogen peroxide on a cotton swab and then rubbing this across their teeth in an attempt to whiten them. This trend started with an 18-year-old TikTok user, who filmed a video of herself doing precisely this. She has now received more than 20.6 million views as a result and has since been copied by other creators on the platform.
The problem with this is that hydrogen peroxide is not made to be placed directly onto teeth in its pure form. The product is an effective disinfectant useful to whiten laundry, is found in cleaning products and is used to sterilise wounds. When used safely, it can help with oral care. Still, a professional must administer this as there are many different strengths in hydrogen peroxide, and higher concentrations can be harmful to your gums.
As we’re dental professionals, we’re able to administer higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide for teeth whitening, such as:
- Boutique by day, a 6% hydrogen peroxide gel containing potassium nitrate, a proven desensitiser. Worn for only one hour per day.
- Boutique by night, a 16% Carbamide peroxide gel containing potassium nitrate, a proven desensitiser. Worn for 4 hours, or overnight.
Exposing toothpaste to natural light
Organising videos is also a big trend on TikTok. Usually, these videos involve people decanting their food into storage containers to make it look more aesthetically pleasing. One user has taken this to another level with their bathroom products and started mixing mouthwash and toothpaste into a clear container, advising it is an easier way to use the products and more pleasing to look at.
Dr Mohiuddin then responded to the video by advising, “The ingredients in toothpaste aren’t UV-stable, so exposing them to light makes them ineffective.”
Here are our top tips on how you should be storing your toothpaste and toothbrush:
- Always put the cap back on
- Make sure there’s no paste around the edges. Exposed toothpaste can attract dirt and germs.
- Keep your toothpaste and your toothbrush in a closed cabinet to keep them hygienic
- Store your paste in a cool environment and away from direct heat and sunlight
- Don’t forget to change your toothbrush at least once every six months
Veneers check
We wince just a little when we see this one being a viral trend… The ‘veneers check’ trend shows users showing off their filed-down natural teeth before a dental procedure.
This is quite a dangerous trend as your teeth don’t need to be shaved down to a stump for the veneers to be fitted. Veneers require minimal preparation (as veneers are a thin shell covering the front surface of the tooth). But people who watch these videos will assume that you need to damage your natural teeth to get veneers fitted.
These videos deliver misinformation, which risks scaring people from having the treatment or, even worse, if they were to go ahead and have veneers done in this manner, it could cause permanent damage to their teeth, something that is irreversible.
We can offer professional advice
As TikTok is an app built for trends, the information on this platform is not monitored. We would like you to consider the long-term implications of these trends before participating in them.
There are many ways to get a healthy smile; you can read more about this in our FREE GUIDE and learn about the different options available for your smile makeover.
Alternatively, if you have any questions about treatments or a trend you’ve seen, contact us on 0114 317 7002, and a member of our friendly team will be able to advise you.
