Currently, access to information is extremely fast and simple, the problem is that creating information, videos to disseminate it and the accessibility of social networks, and viralization of videos is very simple. The creators or sources of this information, influencers, celebrities or anyone with access to the internet, in almost all cases, are not trained to inform or teach what they recommend doing or not doing, especially in health issues. Here we present 7 examples of oral health advice trends that go beyond the dangerous, and can, in some cases, cause not only irreversible damage, but even death.
1.- Use of household cleaning products to whiten teeth:
In a video that was viewed more than 2.5 million times on a social network, an influencer recommends the use of a renowned abrasive fiber containing formaldehyde and sulfuric acid, among other cleaning products such as chlorine or “bleaching” disinfectants for clothes or bathrooms. Many of these products can be DEADLY if ingested, they are highly toxic, they can burn, injure and cause serious external and internal wounds. Therefore, we recommend NOT TO PAY VIRAL VIDEOS that give advice on medical or dental treatments without first verifying the source and consulting with your trusted professional and/or specialist before performing them.
2.- Homemade orthodontics:
An influencer created a series of videos, where, challenging dentists and orthodontists, she uses hair ties to “demonstrate” how to close a space in her front teeth in just 3 days. The average number of views of each video is 9.5 million, nine and a half million people saw how a person “closes” a space between their teeth with hair ties in three days. The consequences of this range from limitation in the blood supply to the teeth, causing pulp death, apical infections (at the ends of the roots of the teeth), loss of teeth due to infection or resorption of their roots and bone. Orthodontic treatments tend to be “long” treatments since specialists, aware of the risks of making very fast movements, calculate the forces of each movement in their treatment plan to avoid irreversible complications such as those mentioned above. Therefore, we recommend NOT TO PAY VIRAL VIDEOS that give advice on medical or dental treatments without first verifying the source and consulting with your trusted professional and/or specialist before performing them.
3.- Use art products, glues and other items to make or repair dental prostheses:
In a video viewed more than 1.7 million times on a social network, with more than 47,000 “likes,” an influencer “teaches” how to make dental prostheses using products such as putties, epoxy glues, paints and other materials that can be found in almost any supermarket or hardware store to make a dental prosthesis. To understand the seriousness of the matter, all materials used in dental practice go through years, in some cases, decades before being approved for use in patients for oral rehabilitation purposes. This is because the quality of the materials, how they fit with the tissues of the mouth, and how they react to contact with foreign materials, determine whether a person will be rehabilitated to return function and aesthetics (two of the main objectives). of prosthetic oral rehabilitation) to the patient in areas of the mouth where teeth have been lost. Using the right products in the wrong way can cause damage to oral tissues and other teeth, to the point of losing bone, support, and even healthy teeth. Now let's imagine the adverse effects that toxic materials can have in the mouth! Therefore, we recommend NOT TO PAY VIRAL VIDEOS that give advice on medical or dental treatments without first verifying the source and consulting with your trusted professional and/or specialist before performing them.
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