DIY trends range from dangerous to minimally beneficial, with a grey area in the middle. In reality, nothing works better for your smile than traditional dental care and excellent oral hygiene.
Of course, DIY videos and social media posts are everywhere, and the footage is often compelling. But don’t be fooled.
This blog explores popular DIY trends and whether they benefit oral health and smile aesthetics.
Popular Natural (and Unnatural) Remedies for Your Smile
There are many DIY dental treatments out there, but here we concentrate on the most popular.
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling means using coconut oil to clean and brighten your teeth. However, Australian dentists note that there is no scientific evidence to suggest that it works. Of course, coconut oil has some anti-bacterial properties.
At best, it’s not harmful, but the benefits are likely negligible. Your toothbrush and floss are superior.
Charcoal Toothpaste or Rinse
As with oil pulling, there is no evidence that charcoal toothpaste or charcoal products will whiten teeth or improve oral hygiene. In fact, charcoal is abrasive and can harm your enamel with daily use.
Lemon Juice and Baking Soda
This trend finds influencers whitening their teeth with lemon juice and baking soda. Baking soda is found in some toothpaste, but when mixed with lemon juice, it becomes an acidic hazard to your tooth enamel.
Tooth Filing
Yes, this is a real trend on the internet, but it is dangerous and can damage your teeth. Tooth filing involves using an abrasive material or file to shorten teeth that are too long or longer than neighbouring teeth.
Your dentist can use safe cosmetic dentistry options like veneers and crowns to give your smile a symmetrical look.
To Book Your Next Check and Clean, We Welcome Your Call
Your Kurri Kurri and Raymond Terrace dentist encourages you to trust your smile aesthetics and oral health to dental professionals. To book your next visit or if you have questions, we welcome your call on (02) 4936 2266 or (02) 4987 1010.