Sep 17, 2024 09:00:00

Why shouldn't you pull out your own teeth?

There are various reasons why you may not be able to visit a dentist, such as when your tooth hurts at night when the dentist is closed. However, Professor Adam Taylor of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre at Lancaster University warns that even in such situations, you should not rely on a dentist and treat yourself.

You might be struggling to find a dentist, but self-dentistry is a very bad idea

https://theconversation.com/you-might-be-struggling-to-find-a-dentist-but-self-dentistry-is-a-very-bad-idea-234836

According to Professor Taylor,

the number of people in the UK who cannot receive dental treatment is on the rise due to the rise in poverty.

It has also been pointed out that 'NHS dentistry,' which visits areas with few dental clinics, also known as ' dental deserts ,' to provide diagnosis, is also in decline due to budget cuts.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020 has made it difficult for many people to visit a dental clinic. As a result, the number of patients who treat their teeth themselves without relying on dentists is increasing .

In

a survey conducted in March 2023, about 10% of respondents reported that they had 'treated their own teeth,' including methods such as 'using cement and superglue to fix fillings or dentures,' 'trying to kill cavity-causing bacteria by drinking urine,' 'trying to replace chipped teeth with heated poly beads,' and 'using adhesives used for outdoor repairs as a substitute for fillings.'

A 2022 paper also reported cases of 'attempts to remove tartar using darts' and 'attempts to extract as many as 13 teeth using pliers after drinking vodka as an anesthetic.'

Professor Taylor said: 'Doing your own dental work at home is unhygienic. Dental equipment in a dental clinic is sterilised after each use and has surfaces that are less conducive to the survival of microbes.'

What's more, Professor Taylor said that self-pulling can create an abnormally large hole between the mouth and the maxillary sinus . Such a hole, called an oropyloric fistula, will heal on its own if it's less than 2mm in size, but larger holes increase the risk of infection.

Also, if tooth decay has progressed to the interface between the tooth and the bone, simply extracting the tooth may not be enough to cure the problem. In fact, it has been pointed out that this may lead to further severe pain and an increased risk of secondary infection.

In addition, if an unskilled person tries to extract a tooth, there is a risk that the tooth root will

break during extraction, and in the worst case scenario, extensive surgery may be required.

Pulling your teeth yourself can also lead to risks such as shifting your teeth's alignment , making eating painful, harming other healthy teeth, and damaging the soft tissues in your mouth.

According to Professor Taylor, some people have been influenced by TikTok and other social media sites to try to smooth their teeth using nail files. Professor Taylor criticized this, saying, 'This is very dangerous because it removes the hard enamel from your teeth, increasing your risk of infection, tooth decay and tooth death.'

In addition, 'tooth whitening with hydrogen peroxide' is also rampant, which can cause serious damage to the gums and digestive tract. 'Quick fixes and life hacks often require specialist treatment later, which can end up costing more in the long run,' says Taylor.