Basic preventive dental care is available to most Americans, but more complicated procedures can come with a price tag. To compensate for convenience and cost, many Americans are opting for “Do-It-Yourself Dentistry.” Whether through instructional videos or mail-order kits, adults of all ages are trying teeth DIYs.
The truth is that most dental DIYs are downright dangerous. Learn how they can cause complications:
Bleaching Lights
Blue LED lights work with whitening agents to supposedly speed up the process. Celebrities like Rihanna and Khloe Kardashian use Instagram to promote these at-home kits. Try if you must, but see your dentist for the safer blue light special.
Pulling Teeth
1 in 5 people would rather pull out their own tooth than see a professional. If you don’t think that’s insane, consider this: If Luke Bryan cancelled his concert at Cheyenne Frontier Days, would you take his place? You can’t be Luke and you can’t replace your dentist either. Bite the bullet and call your dentist. The cost is worth it—a professional will save you money in the long run.
Braces
DIY braces started with rubber bands, but now mail-order aligners are a multi-million dollar industry. We get how it’s appealing. Braces and their alternatives aren’t as budget-friendly as a clearance coffee table at HomeGoods. Orthodontists are more than experts—they have a deep understanding of the biology of your teeth and the physics of moving them. DIY kits aren’t a substitution for an orthodontist—you can do significant damage trying to move your teeth on your own. The bottom line: On the bad idea scale, mail order braces > mail-order brides.
Fillings
Marketed as a temporary option, many are opting to utilize dental cement kits as a permanent solution. Skipping the dentist is not wise on this one, as you risk getting a host of problems. However, in a pinch, it’s perfectly permissible to DIY a temporary filling.
When it comes to your teeth, ditch DIY for DIATD (Do it at the dentist). The only hack in DIY dentistry is the hack job you’ll do on your smile.
