I’m a dentist – here’s the scary reason you should never use whitening toothpaste

The post suggests that pearl pastes “remove external stains by cleaning the layers of enamel, which can make your teeth appear whiter at first.”

However, they warn that the benefits are short-lived, saying: “Over time, this leads to thinner, yellower and more sensitive teeth.”

Surprisingly, they recommend in-office whitening procedures to manage sensitivity and ensure lasting results.

In addition to warning patients about the dangers of at-home bleaching, Rifkin’s team has posted other videos on proper flossing and how a dentist accidentally invented acrylic nails.

TikTok has been a hotbed of dental hacks, with users sharing methods to get a whiter, brighter smile, including the surprising use of a magical Mr. Clean.

“Eraser Magic wears away at a stained layer of enamel with a highly abrasive surface, and while this may cause teeth to initially appear whiter in a short TikTok video, the long-term consequences of enamel wear and tear can result in discolouration. discolored, sensitive and in rare cases, cracked or cracked teeth,” warned Australian dental surgeon Dr. Heath Fraser.

Another dangerous method? Applying hydrogen peroxide directly to the teeth, which Fraser said poses a serious risk to long-term dental health.

“Using high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide on your teeth and gums poses an irreversible risk to your dental health and can lead to sensitive teeth, irritated gums and lips,” Fraser revealed.

He acknowledges that while dentists commonly use hydrogen peroxide as a whitening agent, “the concentration and application is much safer when administered by a professional. Having whiter teeth does not necessarily correlate with healthy teeth

Other TikTok users swear by raw charcoal as a whitening agent, posting their own dramatic before-and-after shots.

However, Frasier pointed out that the approach is also problematic.

“Charcoal is an extremely abrasive surface that can cause a yellow appearance and sensitivity in the long term. Ironically, while initial results may reveal whiter teeth, using highly abrasive surfaces against teeth will damage the enamel and expose the yellow dentin underneath, making them look permanently yellower.