From men dipping their testicles in soy sauce to teens snorting salt, a number of bizarre trends have hit TikTok in recent months.
Now, the latest trend to hit the popular video app sees people flossing their teeth – with their hair.
Several TikTok users have posted videos of the strange habit.
User @unusualbeaut posted a video, writing: “This hair trick is amazing – u can’t tell me otherwise,” while another wrote: “Hair floss…works every time.”
And one user even posted a video of him using his girlfriend’s hair to floss his teeth, writing: “Useful tips for this with girlfriends.”
Now, one dentist has warned that the habit can lead to irreversible damage.
Reena Wadia, gum specialist and founder of RW Perio, said: “Cleaning between your teeth is essential for everyone. Without this, you may be missing cleaning up to half of your mouth.
“However its so important to use the correct tools to clean between the teeth. Not using the right tools may cause trauma and lead to irreversible damage; things like hair, string, a fork, paper.”
Ms Wadia advises that the best tools to use to clean between your teeth are interdental brushes.
She added: “These have been specifically designed to clean the plaque and bacteria in between the teeth. There are various sizes and you might require a few for your mouth.
“The brushes need to feel super snug to ensure they are working as optimally. Floss is great too but I would only use floss if the interdental brushes don’t fit.”
The trend comes shortly after several videos showed TikTok users attempting to file their teeth down to an even length using nail files.
For example, one user called MiaDio, posted a video, saying: “I’m going to file my teeth down with a nail file because they’re not perfect. I have some ridges, and we’re balling on a budget.”
While the technique does appear to make your teeth look smoother, dentists have warned that it could cause permanent damage.
Speaking to Refinery 29, Kami Hoss, CEO of The Super Dentists, explained: “You only get one set of adult teeth to last you a lifetime.
“If you mess up cutting your own hair, it’ll grow back in a few weeks, but your tooth structure will be gone forever, and the potential damage you may cause will not be reversible.”
Dr Hoss explained that filing your teeth could permanently damage your enamel – the hard, outer surface layer of your teeth.
He said: “The enamel on the surface of teeth is very thin, and once it’s filed down, will never grow back.
“Without the proper thickness of enamel protecting your teeth, your teeth may end up with sensitivity or pain, they will become more prone to cavities, and they will lose their luster and white color.”
Source: Mirror UK
