From Instagram to Snapchat, Facebook to the newest craze, TikTok, it’s safe to say that social media plays a big role in many of our lives. It connects us, it educates us, it entertains us – but it’s not all good, either. In fact, there are some things about social media that could be harming us – and our oral health. Here’s what you should avoid when it comes to social media and your smile.
Free Advice
A TikTok video recently made headlines for some unsolicited dental advice that turned out to be pretty spot on. A user claimed the correct order for oral hygiene steps is mouthwash, flossing then brushing. This is actually really good advice. The mouthwash loosens the plaque, the floss cleans away plaque between the teeth, and brushing whisks it all away. Rinsing last would also wash away the fluoride in your toothpaste, so the user cautioned against that too. But that good advice is the exception – not the rule. A good rule of thumb to follow is, if you wouldn’t visit that person to perform your dental work, you probably shouldn’t be taking advice from them.
If you have any oral health routine questions, give Dr. Mingus a call and he or one of his staff will be happy to help!
Product Promotions
You may have heard of social media “influencers” – people who are paid in either money or freebies to promote products on their social media feed. Usually these are people with a lot of followers who are promoting themselves and their lifestyle for profit. Unfortunately, while many may have their heart in the right place when it comes to testing out and promoting products, there are a lot of products out there that simply aren’t proven safe – or that have been outright proven dangerous. Things like charcoal toothpaste, off-brand whitening trays and glow lights for teeth are all prime examples of products that at best may be useless, and at worst may cause damage to your smile.
Dysmorphia
It’s important to remember when you see social media personalities that they often use a lot of filters to make their photos look better. Many have had extensive dental work for a camera-ready smile. The trick is to not let their smile make you feel bad about your own smile. That being said, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve your own smile, so if you’re ready to consider full-mouth reconstruction or a smile makeover, contact Dr. Mingus’ office for a consultation today!