Does Tik Tok lead to dental misinformation???

Sept 2, 2021

I don’t use Tik Tok for personal reasons. But Tik Tok or even other social media platforms today seem like a great way for anyone that wants their voice to be heard. If a video becomes popular, some news outlets will notice it and publish an article about it. If you’re a dental professional, this might be a great way to display your expertise. Unfortunately, many DIY hacks especially on Tik Tok that involve your dental health are not correct and not backed by research and studies. I have not seen many dental related Tik Tok videos that are helpful. Some are confusing like the patient who was told by their dentist to rinse, then brush and floss, then rinse with fluoride. That probably won’t make things better especially if most people don’t floss right. Then there’s a dentist who says you shouldn’t rinse after you brush since it turns a higher concentration of fluoride into a lower concentration of fluoride. Ok, this makes things really confusing now. Or how about the dental student that claimed dentists are able to tell if you are pregnant just by looking at your gums. Not necessarily true, it still can be difficult to tell. Also I’ve learned from experience not to ask since it might be offensive. And this dental hack for a missing tooth (image above). We don’t recommend this.

Remember nothing beats physical daily plaque removal when it comes to your oral care. This can be done! You just have to be motivated to do it everyday!