Popular Dental Trends

During this generation’s day and age, many people are focused on social media, whether they see or follow the trend to what popular things others are doing. However, some of the popular trends you see on social media platforms may be harmful to your teeth. You should avoid following any dangerous trends because they will go out of style over time, but your teeth remain with you for a lifetime.

• Activated charcoal is one of the standard advertisements on social media that comes as an odorless, black powdery substance. It is known that once it is activated, the charcoal will surely whiten and brighten your teeth. When the charcoal is activated, it is highly absorbent and can strip toxins in which over time it can erode your tooth enamel.
• Baking Soda and Lemon Juice are used to remove plaque. Lemon juice is useful for lifting stains due to the acidic citrus, but it can also erode your teeth’ enamel. Combining baking soda can be quite harmful since baking soda is a mild abrasive compound that is high in pH. With both ingredients mixed, it can create extreme erosions.
• Do-It-Yourself/At-Home Teeth Whiteners is another alternative to activated charcoal but with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. An overly exceeded amount can permanently damage your enamel. The safest way for teeth whitening procedures or treatment should always be done professionally with your dentist.
• Hydrogen Peroxide has been known to be a home remedy to whiten teeth and reduce any gum inflammations. You should always find diluted hydrogen peroxide (3%) to use at home. It is not recommended for overuse because it can irritate your gums, and if accidentally ingested, it could upset your stomach.

Other trends include diamond implants, fashion grills, gold teeth, or the tooth gap. Keep in mind that fashion trends that you see on social media are only temporary. To have healthy teeth for a lifetime, schedule your appointments with your dentist annually, brush and floss your teeth twice a day, and keep practicing high oral routines daily.