The process of “filing teeth with a nail file”, which has recently become a trend, especially on social media, has mobilized experts. Specialist Dentist Prof. Dr. Birkan Taha Özkan warned against the process of filing teeth with nail files applied at home, which has become a trend.
The process of “filing teeth with a nail file”, which has recently become a trend, especially on social media, has mobilized experts. Stating that the practice seriously threatens dental health, Specialist Dentist, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Specialist, Prof. Dr. Birkan Taha Özkan explained the dangers of the practice at home. Prof. Dr. Özkan, who warned citizens on the subject, said, “Your teeth are sensitive structures that require professional equipment and knowledge. Therefore, instead of misleading applications on social media to shape your teeth or fix their problems, it will always be the right approach to receive professional treatment from dentists.”
“Causes permanent damage to teeth and aesthetic problems”
Stating that irreversible permanent damage may remain, Specialist Dentist Prof. Dr. Birkan Taha Özkan said, “This popular practice, which causes irreversible damage to the teeth, can cause permanent damage to dental health and dental aesthetics. The process of filing teeth with a nail file at home carries serious risks. This dangerous trend, which is spreading rapidly on social media, can irreversibly damage your teeth. The tooth filing method applied at home causes permanent damage to the teeth and aesthetic problems, “he said.
“Tooth sensitivity increases, durability decreases, fragility occurs and coloration increases”
Prof. Dr. Birkan Taha Özkan, explaining the harms of filing teeth at home, said, “Filing your teeth with a nail file at home may seem to provide an aesthetic appearance in the short term, but it causes aesthetic problems in the long term. These procedures done at home cause irreversible damage by abrading the tooth enamel. The enamel protects the outer layer of the tooth and once damaged, it cannot regenerate itself, leading to increased tooth sensitivity, reduced durability, brittleness and increased discoloration. Dental filing at home is a dry sanding process. The high heat generated in this process can damage the dental nerves and lead to tooth death. Filing teeth with a nail file at home erodes the tooth unevenly and makes it prone to decay.”
“It can irreversibly worsen your dental health”
Underlining that an irreversible path will be taken in terms of dental health, Prof. Dr. Özkan said, “You may initially see your teeth crowding or different length tooth problems as solved by filing your teeth at home. Teeth of different lengths may be a sign of cyst or inflammation at the tip of the tooth roots. When the individual files the long tooth with the inflamed root, it is then level with the other side tooth, but after a while the inflammation continues to press on the tooth root and grow. At this stage, filing and abrading the tooth is no longer the solution. The real solution is to save the tooth from a possible cyst or inflammation in the root, to stop the inflammation from melting the jaw bone and to pave the way for the tooth to be saved without extraction. Therefore, the main source of the problem in dental aesthetics must be solved. Unfortunately, social media has become a platform where false information can be easily accessed and perceived as true. Such dangerous trends are more preferred especially among individuals who increase their dental aesthetic concerns day by day. At home, filing or abrading teeth with a nail file may only provide comfort in dental aesthetic appearance in the short term, but in the long term, it causes major dental aesthetic and dental health problems. Abrading your teeth can irreversibly worsen your dental health,” he said.
“It can lead to major health problems”
Stating that long-term problems may arise in short-term solutions, Özkan said, “Although the process of filing teeth at home may seem to relieve you in the short term, it can lead to bigger health problems in the long term. Radiographic analysis and clinical examination should be performed to correct tooth deformities, fractures or sharpness. Based on this, diagnostic treatment planning and treatment are carried out. In this way, it will be possible to improve your teeth in a healthy and permanent way. Your teeth are delicate structures that require professional equipment and knowledge. Therefore, it will always be the right approach to get professional treatment from dentists instead of misleading applications on social media to shape or troubleshoot your teeth. Social media is a very useful platform for sharing information. However, the information obtained on social media should be questioned internally by the individual himself/herself, and what kind of dangers the applications may cause in the later stages should be considered in detail.”
“It can lead to serious dental health problems and tooth loss”
Stating that the procedure may cause tooth loss, Özkan said, “Your dental health is directly related not only to aesthetic teeth but also to your general health. Applying for dental treatment methods may initially seem more costly, but it is the most effective way to protect your dental health in the long run. Improper dental procedures performed at home can lead to serious dental health problems and tooth loss. Remember, a dentist and specialized dentists can protect your dental health and permanently solve the aesthetic problems of your teeth with the right treatment methods. Protect your teeth with love and trust your dentist's advice to keep them healthy.”
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