DIY Braces Is A Terrible Online Trend That You Definitely Should NOT Try

Straight teeth are a sign of beauty in American culture. But because orthodonture can be an expensive and lengthy process teenagers have started sharing their own cheap do-it-yourself version of braces on the internet. One of the first instructional videos posted to YouTube was created by a young teen who wanted to close the gap between her two front teeth. She demonstrated how to loop a small rubber band around the teeth, warning viewers that the pain suffered on the first few days might be enough to make them want to take the band out and stop. Now the video has received over 600,000 views!

The American Association of Orthodontists are so distressed by this new trend that they have issued a PSA warning video explaining the dangers involved with straightening your own teeth. Something as trivial as a rubber band could wreak havoc on one’s mouth. It could tear the gums, cut off the blood supply to the tooth, lead to infection and even cause a tooth to fall out.

There is a price to pay for straight teeth; either an orthodonture bill or a permanently damaged mouth.