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Social media pushing young adults towards 'DIY dentistry'

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Young Australians aged 18-25 are increasingly influenced by social media for dental health decisions, a survey found.
  • Many are delaying dental care due to cost, resorting to "DIY dentistry" and using potentially damaging cosmetic products.
  • Dentists warn of untreated problems, pressure from social media, and the risks of self-treatment, especially concerning wisdom teeth.

Young Australians are delaying essential dental care due to escalating costs, with many turning to "DIY dentistry" influenced by social media trends, according to a new national survey. The Australian Dental Association (ADA) reports that 60 percent of adults aged 18 to 25 now make decisions about their oral health based on social media content.

It's not something that we recommend doing without a registered dental practitioner advising and ensuring that they're getting the right product, the right concentration and that it is actually in line with all the Australian regulations that we have to keep people safe

— Angie NilssonDr. Angie Nilsson, ADA vice president, warns about the dangers of self-treating dental issues based on social media advice.

This includes pursuing cosmetic procedures like veneers and aligners, and ordering teeth whitening products that can cause significant damage. ADA vice president Angie Nilsson expressed concern over this "concerning combination" of untreated dental issues, social media pressure, and preventable injuries. "It's not something that we recommend doing without a registered dental practitioner advising and ensuring that they're getting the right product, the right concentration and that it is actually in line with all the Australian regulations that we have to keep people safe," Dr Nilsson stated.

Some of my friends have actually considered buying it recently

— Ava VeresUniversity student Ava Veres discusses the influence of online trends on her friends' purchasing decisions for dental products.

University student Ava Veres shared her experience, noting the prevalence of "whitening hacks" and online ads for whitening strips. "Some of my friends have actually considered buying it recently," she said. Veres admitted to experiencing pain from her wisdom teeth but cannot afford a dental appointment. "I have been dreading even looking at that because it's just not really on the cards for me," she explained, citing increased expenses since moving to Brisbane for her studies.

I have been dreading even looking at that because it's just not really on the cards for me

— Ava VeresAva Veres explains her inability to afford dental care due to financial constraints.

The ADA survey also revealed that 60 percent of young adults in this age group have experienced wisdom tooth-related problems. Dr Nilsson emphasized the importance of professional dental advice for managing such issues, warning that delaying treatment can lead to more painful, complex, and expensive problems. She noted that many young adults "fall through the cracks" as they transition to independence and may lose access to private health insurance.

Unfortunately, many are delaying dental visits until something goes wrong, and by then the problem is often more painful, more complex, and more expensive to treat

— Angie NilssonDr. Angie Nilsson highlights the consequences of delayed dental care among young adults.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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