These days YouTube has a video tutorial for everything: How to cook spaghetti, how to change a car tire, how to do the perfect squat\u2026\u2026and how to make do-it-yourself braces at home. While the proliferation of online videos with helpful tips can foster a healthy pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps attitude, a pull-your-teeth-up-by-the-braces approach to orthodontia is dangerous for the health of your mouth and teeth.<\/p>\n
There is a hazardous new trend in the do-it-yourself industry: pre-teens and teenagers are making online videos sharing how to use common household items such as rubber bands, dental floss, fishing line, hair elastics, and paper clips to fashion homemade braces that will close gaps between teeth.<\/p>\n
DIY orthodontia will result in pain and have unforeseen consequences you may not have considered yet. Here\u2019s why this dangerous trend should be met with alarm:<\/p>\n
The process of placing braces is a medical procedure that slowly shifts teeth through bone over time and influences bone growth. Only an orthodontist is trained and certified to assess your mouth and determine any underlying problems before selecting a braces treatment that will affect your teeth, jaw, bite pattern, and even the shape of your face. Taking matters into your own hands by constructing DIY mouth hardware can result in permanent damage and infection, which is why the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) has issued a consumer alert for \u201cgap bands\u201d and other home remedies for closing gaps between teeth. When it comes to braces, do not take the advice of unqualified teenagers on the internet; talk to Dr. Boyett at Boyett Family Dentistry instead. She will assess your mouth and determine if there is a need for future orthodontic treatment. If you are worried about gaps in your teeth, don\u2019t reach for the rubber bands \u2013 reach for the phone and call Boyett Family Dentistry at 863-294-9200 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Boyett today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
These days YouTube has a video tutorial for everything: How to cook spaghetti, how to change a car tire, how to do the perfect squat\u2026\u2026and how to make do-it-yourself braces at home. While the proliferation of online videos with helpful tips can foster a healthy pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps attitude, a pull-your-teeth-up-by-the-braces approach to orthodontia is dangerous for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3062,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n