Dental
The Dangers of Post-Pandemic, At-Home Cosmetic Dentistry
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Nov 5, 2021 - 4:27:57 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - More than 50% of Americans have skipped their routine dental appointments due to COVID concerns. And we all know that the pandemic-related lockdowns + stay-at-home orders have exacerbated DIY everything--including dentistry.

From mail-order aligners to TikTok trends, consumers are seemingly taking their oral care into their own hands post-pandemic. Dr. Tina Saw, cosmetic dentist + founder of Oral Genome - a D2C dental wellness testing kit that measures your oral health by testing your saliva's response to fighting cavities, gum disease, and bad breath - weighs in a few at-home alternatives to professional dental care that could be potentially harmful to your teeth.

• The Dangers of Mail Order Aligners - Clear braces + invisible aligners are increasingly popular today, especially because people want a straighter smile quickly. Due to demand, some companies are offering D2C, cheaper alternatives that supply you with an at-home impression kit and then will send you back the aligners with instructions. However, they pose several dangers to your teeth. "You get what you pay for, and when you use mail-order aligners, there's no comprehensive exam beforehand, no real supervision throughout the treatment, and they can make your teeth worse than when you started." Moving teeth too fast or poorly fitted aligners can cut your gums, result in the inability to close your mouth correctly, or even make your teeth fall out.
• At-Home Teeth Whitening - From toothpaste to whitening strips, there are several options for at-home teeth whitening, and they're generally safe for consumers to use. However, there are adverse effects if these products aren't used cautiously, and long-term use can cause some serious dental health issues. If not applied correctly, whitening products can cause tooth sensitivity, increased demineralization of the teeth, damage to the pulp of the teeth, or even tooth erosion.
• DIY Teeth Filing - This recent TikTok trend might help your teeth look good temporarily, but filing down your teeth with a nail file can cause severe + permanent damage and tooth sensitivity. "If you file down your teeth the incorrect way, say goodbye to cold drinks and ice cream." Any kind of food like that would be inedible because they'd cause some shockingly horrible teeth pain + sensitivity. Professional dentists have special tools that will safely even out the edges of your teeth w/o damaging the nerve and can also help evaluate and treat what causes the unevenness in the first place.

Tina Saw, DDS

Dr. Tina Saw provides her patients with exceptional cosmetic, restorative and general dentistry. As a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, she has spent many hours striving towards perfecting techniques that yield top-notch cosmetic results in order to deliver natural, beautiful and minimally invasive dentistry. Dr. Saw is also a member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association and San Diego County Dental Society.