Dentists are issuing a warning about ‘do-it-yourself braces’ tutorials posted on YouTube, amid fears that children are causing permanent damage to their teeth in pursuit of perfect “Love Island smiles”.
Eddie Crouch, vice-chair of the British Dental Association, warned that poorly-applied braces can cause a child’s teeth to fall out, and urged YouTube to act. Some of the videos, described by top dentists this week as “scary”, have racked up hundreds of thousands of views online.
In one video, seen by 180,000 people, a young woman uses clay and glue to create a makeshift brace into the shape of her ideal mouth. She later tells viewers that she wears the ‘brace’ while she sleeps.
YouTube has come under fire in recent months for failing to remove extreme content aimed at children.
If you feel your child may need orthodontic treatment speak to your dentist at their next examination.
Back to Blog