It’s natural to want to save money. But when viral YouTube videos show teens and adults attempting to straighten their own teeth, it can be tempting to try it yourself. Doctors Carvalho and Roth, trusted orthodontic specialists, urge patients in Marlborough, Northborough, and Newton Centre to avoid these dangerous DIY methods.
Whether it’s designing your own plastic aligners similar to Invisalign products, or creating your own movement process with rubber bands, completing these medical treatments on yourself is risky business. Buzzfeed recently reported on 23-year-old Amos Dudley who created his own “homemade” set of plastic aligners. Dudley, a college design student, designed 18 sets of aligners using his school’s 3-D printer at a cost of only $60. He turned in the project for a class, and then wore the aligners to move his teeth.
Most people don’t have access to the expensive equipment used by Dudley, but they’ve turned to everyday household items to create fake braces. One of the earliest YouTube DIY braces videos showed 14-year-old Shalom DeSota looping rubber bands around her front teeth to close a gap between her two front teeth. More than 600,000 people viewed her video, sending it viral across the web.
Many other videos show teens making braces with hair elastic ties, paper clips, backs of earrings, electrical wire, fishing line, and more.
What Are the dangers of do-it-yourself braces?
- DIY braces can lead to infection
Foreign objects in the mouth can introduce bacteria into your system. You also risk tearing the gums, which might not heal properly and will be prone to infection. - DIY braces can lead to bone loss and root damage
A rubber band left in your mouth for extensive time can work itself under the gums, force itself into the gum line and start to wear the bone away. The band actually strangles all nutrients to the tooth and permanently damages the supporting bone structures. - DIY braces can lead to serious bite changes
Most DIY braces focus on only a portion of the teeth in your mouth. The problem is while these teeth move to close gaps; other teeth become further apart changing the way your teeth meet or your bite. Other teeth, left without support, can become unstable and drift, changing the way you chew and speak. - DIY braces can lead to tooth loss
If the rubber band wears away at the bone below the gum line, the tooth doesn’t get the support it needs. The tooth will eventually wiggle itself out of the socket and fall out costing more to fix - DIY braces can lead to relapse
While these DIY methods may move your teeth, you will have no control over the movement. This quick, unsupervised movement is likely to make your teeth move back to their original position even faster that the time it took for you to originally move them. -
DIY braces can Chronic Pain and Discomfort
DIY methods often cause prolonged pain, jaw soreness, headaches, and even temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues due to uneven pressure on the teeth. -
DIY braces can lead to misalignment of jaw and facial aesthetics
Incorrectly moved teeth can alter the natural alignment of your jaw and face, potentially causing asymmetry or bite imbalance over time. -
DIY braces can lead to costly corrective procedures
Damage caused by DIY braces often requires extensive professional intervention, including orthodontic treatment, crowns, root canals, or even dental implants. -
DIY braces can give you emotional stress
Dealing with the consequences of DIY braces—pain, tooth damage, and expensive treatments—can be stressful and emotionally draining.
Protect Your Smile
If you’ve experimented with DIY braces even for a short time call our Marlborough, Northborough, or Newton Centre offices immediately. Damage from DIY methods can appear in as little as 4–6 weeks. Early intervention can save your teeth, gums, and jaw from permanent harm.
Your first consultation is free. We will:
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Assess your teeth, gums, and jaw health
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Identify any damage caused by DIY methods
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Recommend a safe, customized treatment plan for braces or Invisalign
Let us help you create a healthy, confident, and beautifully aligned smile—without the risks of DIY braces.
Look to Carvalho & Roth for braces or Invisalign payment plans
Clearly the motivation for all of these DIY braces options is money. That’s where we can help. Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics will work with your dental insurance to make sure any benefits are awarded for your braces needs. Our finance experts will also work with you on a payment plan for your braces or Invisalign treatments that will suit your needs and budget.
While you might paint your own house, orthodontic treatment is a serious medical procedure that requires a professional. Doctors Carvalho and Roth are graduates of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, have years of orthodontic specialists training and have advanced master’s degrees. They are experts in moving teeth and aligning jaws. Count on them when it comes to properly moving your teeth in a safe and effective way.
We encourage you to contact us at our Marlborough, Northborough or Newton Centre, MA, offices if you have been fashioning your own braces. You might start to see damage from DIY braces in 4-6 weeks after using the rubber bands. It’s never too late to ensure that your teeth and jaw are healthy and not in danger.
If you’re ready to consult orthodontic experts for your braces or Invisalign treatments, call us to schedule your first free appointment and find out how Carvalho & Roth Orthodontics can help. We’ll assess the health of your gums and teeth and let you know if anything needs attention. We look forward to helping you create that bright, beautiful, straight-tooth smile you’ve always wanted.
FAQs About DIY Braces and Safe Orthodontic Care
1. Are DIY braces ever safe?
No. Any unsupervised attempt to move teeth can cause irreversible damage. Professional supervision is always required.
2. How quickly can DIY braces damage teeth?
Damage can occur in as little as 4–6 weeks, depending on the method and pressure applied.
3. Can rubber bands really move teeth?
Yes, but uncontrolled movement can harm roots, gums, and bone, and may lead to tooth loss.
4. What is the safest alternative to DIY braces?
Invisalign or professionally fitted braces from an orthodontist are safe and effective.
5. Will insurance cover braces or Invisalign?
Most dental insurance plans cover a portion of orthodontic treatment. Carvalho & Roth can help maximize your benefits.
6. How much do professional braces cost compared to DIY methods?
DIY may seem cheaper initially, but corrective treatments for damage caused by DIY braces can cost thousands more.
7. Can DIY braces cause jaw problems?
Yes. Misaligned teeth can affect bite and jaw alignment, potentially leading to TMJ pain and facial asymmetry.
8. What should I do if I’ve used DIY braces?
Stop immediately and schedule an urgent consultation with a qualified orthodontist.
9. Are clear aligners safer than rubber bands?
Only when professionally designed and monitored. Homemade aligners carry the same risks as any DIY method.
10. How long does professional orthodontic treatment take?
Treatment varies depending on your case, typically 12–24 months, with follow-ups to ensure safe and effective results.
Tags: Do-it-Yourself Braces