By: Rosie Torres, R.D.H.
Let’s be honest—TikTok is the wild, wild west of DIY advice. One minute you’re learning how to fold a fitted sheet, and the next someone’s convincing you to “fix” your teeth at home using a Magic Eraser.
Sure, social media is great for dance trends, dog videos, and learning how to make a salad in a mason jar—but when it comes to your teeth, we kindly suggest you log off. Because once enamel is gone, no amount of influencer disclaimers can bring it back.
So before you reach for the rubber bands, the whitening concoctions, or (gulp) the steak knife… read this first. Here are the top 8 TikTok dental disasters—aka things to never try at home unless you want a starring role in your dentist’s next horror story.
1.Tooth Shaping (aka DIY Dentin Destruction)
The video: Someone casually filing down their teeth with a nail file like they’re giving themselves a spa day.
The reality: I had a toothache just watching it.
You’re not reshaping acrylics—you’re filing down living tissue. Once you sand through your enamel, you hit dentin, which is softer, more sensitive, and not a fan of being exposed. Go too far and you might expose the nerve itself, which could lead to—you guessed it—a root canal or extraction. And the kicker? That enamel? It doesn’t grow back. You’re sanding away your tooth’s best defense.
And let’s talk tools: your dentist uses high-speed water-cooled drills. That TikTok creator is using a dry, probably-not-sterile nail file they bought on Amazon. One produces art. The other? Dental doom.
2.Gap Bands: MacGyver Orthodontics
Sure, dental work can be pricey, but don’t let that push you into the rubber band black market, like this influencer did.
Looping rubber bands around your teeth to close a gap seems like a fast fix—until that rubber band slips under your gums and wraps itself around your tooth root like it’s prepping for a sinister orthodontic hug. This can lead to infections, gum damage, and in severe cases, tooth loss.
DIY braces = just don’t. Call a professional. We promise they’re better at this.
3.Tooth Gems: A Sticky Situation
Bling is beautiful—when applied safely. DIY kits like the one featured in this video often include adhesives meant for crafts, not canines.
Improper application can lead to gum irritation, enamel damage, or worse, swallowing the gem entirely. (Swallowing your sparkle is never the vibe.) Plus, removing improperly bonded gems requires professional tools—unless you’re cool with a DIY crown next.
If you want a gem, let a licensed dental professional do the gluing. We’ll make sure your tooth gets the royal treatment—without the ER follow-up.
4.Whitening with Peroxide & Magic Erasers (aka Chemical Warfare for Your Mouth)
What do hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and Magic Erasers have in common? They all belong outside your body.
TikTok influencers like this one have been spotted mixing up their own whitening cocktails like mad scientists. One generous pour of peroxide here, a scrub of melamine foam there (like this video demonstrates)… what could go wrong?
A lot, actually.
Hydrogen peroxide can burn soft tissue, damage nerves, and cause painful internal inflammation. Magic Erasers? They’re made of melamine foam—a highly abrasive substance that works great on walls but is basically sandpaper for your teeth. Their warning label literally says “Do not use on skin.” So… why would you put it in your mouth?
Pro tip: If it cleans your bathtub, it probably shouldn’t touch your bicuspids.
5. Facial Fitness Gum: Jaw Gains or TMJ Pains?
We love a good fitness trend—but not when it involves chewing yourself into chronic jaw pain.
The idea is that by working out your masseter muscles like in this video, you’ll get a chiseled jawline. But like with any workout, overdoing it can lead to injury. TMJ dysfunction, headaches, cracked fillings… not exactly #gains.
Spoiler: You don’t need to chew your way to beauty. You’re already jaw-dropping. 😉
6.Veneer “Techs”: The Great Pretenders
Would you let someone who took a YouTube course perform surgery on you? No? Then let’s not do that with veneers either.
“Veneer technicians” on TikTok are offering to reshape and place cosmetic dental veneers with zero dental licensure. What could go wrong? Oh, just permanent nerve damage, oral infections, and the possibility of choking on the materials during placement.
Dentists have years of education, training, and licensure for a reason. Teeth are not a DIY project. See someone who knows the difference between enamel and cementum, please and thank you.
7. DIY Fillings: Arts & Crafts for Cavities
Using melted beads to “fill” a cavity might look satisfying on camera—but in reality, you’re sealing decay inside your tooth like a tiny time bomb.
Proper fillings require complex materials, chemical bonding, and meticulous prep work. These TikTok techniques are about as effective as plugging a leaky pipe with chewing gum. Plus, the decay doesn’t stop growing just because you can’t see it anymore.
Trust us—your cavity needs a dentist, not a glue gun.
8. Steak Knife Cleanings: Sharp Tools, Bad Ideas
Yes, this one is real. Multiple patients have told me they’ve used various types of knives such as pocketknives, butter knives, and a serrated steak knife to remove tartar (hardened plaque build-up). And somehow said it with pride.
Besides the obvious (infection, gum trauma, losing a tooth mid-slice), using non-sterile, sharp objects in your mouth can cause irreparable enamel damage and major gum recession. And buying scalers online? Equally risky, as demonstrated in this video.
Dental professionals use sterilized, specialized tools and are trained to navigate the delicate anatomy of your mouth without accidentally performing a DIY lobotomy.
Also, no, your dishwasher cannot properly sterilize dental tools. It’s a dishwasher. Not a dental lab.
Final Thoughts: Stick to the Cat & Dog Videos
We get it—going to the dentist can be expensive, and TikTok offers “free” fixes. But most of these hacks end up costing more in the long run (emotionally, financially, and enamel-wise).
So please: save yourself the pain, the regret, and the ER visit. When in doubt, let your dentist and dental hygienist at Gallery 57 Dental handle the dental stuff. That’s what we went to school for. Call us at (212)246-8700 to set up a consultation today! Follow Gallery57Dental on Facebook here!
Now go watch a cat knock something off a shelf. It’s safer for your smile.
