Social media influence is huge in today’s generation. There is so much information that is disseminated online, and with some simple searching, anyone can find just about anything. While this wealth of knowledge is wonderful, it can also be misleading. Sometimes trends that go viral can be dangerous or cause health issues. People are always looking for a quick fix or something that can save them money, so some of these viral life hacks end up spreading like wildfire. Today some dentists are warning people against the use of a trend that has recently taken hold. They are hoping that by addressing this viral hack online, they can bring some awareness and hopefully avoid many people causing irreparable damage to their teeth.

People can be very self-conscious when it comes to the condition of their teeth and their smile. One of the things that can cause some strife is gaps in the teeth. Specifically, the front teeth. Now some people have these gaps and accept them as a part of their character, while others immediately take the necessary steps to close the gap. Anyone that has had dental work done knows that it can get very expensive at times. Braces and retainers can cost thousands of dollars, and this does not even include the cost of upkeep after the fact. Braces and retainers are also not quick fixes, it takes months and sometimes years until a patient’s teeth are perfect. A new viral dental life hack shows a low-cost way to fix this, by using tight rubber bands. A Tik-Tok user named Diana uploaded a video of herself wrapping tight rubber bands around her two front teeth to close a gap that she has. She explains in the video that she would continue to tighten the rubber bands around her teeth until the gap is closed. The user claimed it only took three days to get the desired results. This rendered millions of views on Tik-Tok and went viral almost overnight.

@diana..nova

FINAL RESULTS of closing the gap in my teeth❤️‍🩹 #teeth #braces #bracescolors

♬ original sound – Rachel Andrew 🌸

Users then began giving their feedback on the practice. Comments were a wide range from positive to negative. Some users claimed that they have tried the practice and that it worked except that the gap came back over time. Other users warned her that she might cause permanent damage to her teeth or even lose her teeth. Stringed throughout the comments were many dentists who offered their professional opinions against this practice. They warned her to go to a professional and that the use of rubber bands in such a rudimentary way could cause permanent damage to her teeth and gums. Luckily, this user took the comments from the dental professionals to heart and posted a follow-up video captioned “PLS I’M SO EMBARRASSED.” In this video, Diana explains that outside of brushing and flossing, you shouldn’t try to fix or move teeth in any way. She also said that if you are wanting to get anything fixed to always go to a professional.