Due to the recent pandemic, COVID-19 is still on the rise, and challenges on these different social media platforms have been becoming outlandish these past years. We have trends ranging from funny to outright dangerous even to be attempting. Many believe these challenges have been attempted because of the boredom of being inside for so long, but many teenagers have been trying these things just for a moment of fame. These dangerous trends have been on the rise lately, for example, the fire or penny challenges, but the most recent has been the teeth filing trend. This challenge has been very dangerous to your oral hygiene, according to many Dentists. Here’s how it started and why you shouldn’t attempt this trend.
From TikTok Fame to Dental Shame
An influencer named Mia Dio woke up one morning and felt that her teeth had ridges that weren’t as flawless as she wanted them to be, so she had the bright idea to grab a nail file and begin scraping at her teeth. This led to her recording and posting her idea on TikTok to show the world her “great” idea. The video got many views and was linked within minutes with her in the description saying, “It works amazingly”. Because of this one video, thousands of influencers and young ticktockers started filing their teeth to be a part of this dangerous trend.
Many Dentists have properly explained why anyone shouldn’t be doing this trend. If you try to file or shave your teeth at home, you can damage the enamel on your teeth, leading to many other problems. Because tooth enamel is unreplaceable, you might need a veneer or crown if the damage is severe enough to be shaved off.
Why Dental Professionals Are Essential for Perfect Smiles
Many Dentists will give you many more major reasons why you shouldn’t shave off your teeth in order for them to be “perfect”. Though this can be done, it has to be done professionally, not by picking up a nail file and watching a video on social media. There are numerous advantages to cutting down a tooth. Additionally, it can enhance the health of your mouth, lessen head and neck pain, and provide the appearance that your grin is more even. In conclusion, following a trend that you see on TikTok isn’t always the right way to go for things like this. If you believe this procedure would benefit you, speak with a dentist so you can learn more about your alternatives.