Braces might be having a moment amongst Gen Z, style-wise, but it’s no secret that they’re still not a teen’s favorite thing. Those of us who’ve lived through the brackets and wires know that sometimes, you want nothing more than to yank them off your teeth, no matter the risk. But most of us never got as far as actually trying to remove braces by ourselves, which is exactly what a new TikTok trend has kids doing.
In one video, a teen uses a spoon to pop off brackets one by one; another uses pliers. Both of them explain that they’re heading to military boot camp soon, where they’re not allowed to have braces. One explains that no orthodontists were able to see him to take the braces off professionally, adding “I’m pretty sure I’ll regret this decision later.”
He’s probably right. Whether it’s due to tooth pain, discomfort, or job requirements, it won’t surprise you to hear that removing braces at home is not a good idea, no matter how much your teen wants them off.
“It’s incredibly scary and unfortunate,” Dr. Erika Faust, a top orthodontist in New York City and founder of Elite Orthodontics NYC, tells SheKnows of the trend. “Teens have no idea how damaging this can be to their enamel and the integrity of their teeth as a whole.” While popping the brackets off might not seem so difficult (sometimes a poorly-placed bite of food will do it!), it turns out that applying this kind of intense pressure in the wrong way can injure or even fracture your teen’s teeth.
“Watching orthodontists remove [braces] may also make it seem like it’s very easy to do,” notes Dr. Faust, “but orthodontists understand the science behind the forces involved, have studied your teeth and have the manual dexterity to do it properly.”
When it’s an untrained hand removing braces, there are a long-term risks involved. “At best, small fractures of tooth enamel can occur which are not necessarily visible, but can weaken the teeth significantly,” explains Dr. Faust. There will also be small pieces of cement left behind, which can attract stains and bacteria. And, in the worst-case scenario, your teen could fracture their tooth outright, Dr. Faust says — an injury that would require reconstruction by a dentist.
If your teen or young adult needs or wants their braces off before their scheduled time, there is a solution that doesn’t require prying them off in your home bathroom. “Most orthodontists are willing to remove the braces early if the parent gives permission,” Dr. Faust says, although she notes that orthodontists will likely stress that the treatment is not finished or ideal. “Communication between the patient, parent, and orthodontist is key in these scenarios,” she adds. While taking your teen’s braces off early isn’t great, it’s definitely better than them letting them try to do it themselves (after learning from a TikTok video!).