Dentistry Goes Viral SHOULD YOU GET YOUR DENTAL ADVICE FROM TIKTOK?
Dentists have recently been going viral on TikTok, leaving viewers and bloggers breathless with the industry secrets.
In early July, it was dentist Anna Peterson from Essex telling viewers that they shouldn’t use mouthwash after brushing their teeth, claiming it washes away the fluoride. She instead recommends using mouthwash only after eating. Then, it was Dr. K. Sarvendran from Toronto, Canada, advising viewers that they’re using too much toothpaste, saying anything more than a pea- sized amount is overdoing it. She claims that too much toothpaste has the potential to wear down the enamel on your teeth.
“cleaner” after brushing — the brushing itself is the most important thing. And while fluoride is great, he has some patients who don’t use it due to individual preference, so he makes personalized treatment based on this decision. But some viral tips can be downright dangerous, like the trend of using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on your teeth. Thankfully, no dentist recommended this practice, but it did take off briefly in July. Using a magic eraser is actually a terrible idea, as it will scrub the enamel off your teeth — and enamel doesn’t grow back. “Sometimes we, as clinicians, spend way too much time trying to undo the myths and half-truths people find on social media about their dental health,” Dr. Schermer says, also remembering nonsense claims that coconut oil can substitute for a root canal. (If only!) In reality, he says, “every decision is based on personal needs.” TikTok and other social media sites may be fun, but health decisions should be made in collaboration with your doctor. If you have questions about your dental health, we’ll be glad to address them during your next visit to our office.
While there’s some truth to both doctors’ claims, it’s also fair to say that they overstate their cases.
“There’s a time and a place for everything, and TikTok is not my first go-to point for health care decisions,” Dr. Schermer explains. That’s why he doesn’t have his own TikTok channel. “I don’t want to take away from the serious yet personal nature of what we do in the office,” he says, referencing his highly trained staff and their daily work to take care of patients’ dental needs. Regarding the specific claims in the videos, Dr. Schermer explains that all health care decisions, including those regarding your teeth, are personal in nature. For example, he says that toothpaste provides a benefit of feeling
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