Oh, you’ve got to love the Internet, right? If you go to YouTube right now and type “do it yourself dental” in the search bar, just wait and see all of the videos, more specifically, topics that you have to choose from. As your Georgetown dentist, we can tell you that it’s a bit scary to see all of the results and all of the views some of these videos generate.
The sad part about do-it-yourself dental videos is that for many people, they feel like they don’t have any other options but to literally take their dental issues into their own hands due to factors such as:
– Lack of dental insurance coverage
– Misunderstanding of costs
– Age constraints
– Limited access to quality care
– Dental phobia or anxiety
These videos and advertisements that you see across social media that claim to provide you with a quick, affordable fix for your dental problems are doing more damage than good.
What Are Some of the DIY Dentistry Dangers?
In as early as 2018, the American Dental Association launched a campaign to warn the public about how damaging dental repairs and orthodontics done at home can be to both your oral and overall health. The organization ran a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal encouraging readers to avoid DIY dentistry at all costs. They said the reasoning behind the ad was just the “beginning of an ADA-led public awareness campaign on the potential concerns to patients when using do-it-yourself treatments. These include teeth straightening kits, veneers, bruxing devices, and other solutions typically executed under the care of a dentist or specialist.”
These various advertised treatments and solutions can do unknowingly do damage that negatively affects the health of your:
- Gums
- Bone
- Ligaments
- Teeth
- Bite
Issues with any of these things could result in long-term damage that could time to help heal.
What Can I Do to Help My Smile?
Your teeth and gums play a significant role in both your oral and your overall health. So, there’s never any question that taking care of them should fall into the hands of a professional like your Georgetown dentist. We want you to love your smile, not simply piece it together at home and possibly do more damage than good.
If there’s something that’s bothering you or even causing you pain in terms of your smile, please reach out to us today. Everyone at our dental office in Georgetown understands what it means to honestly care and listen to your concerns, from your first visit as a new patient to every checkup in the future. Talk to us today and schedule a hassle-free consultation.