Orthodontic treatment can be a lengthy process and some teenagers just aren’t prepared to wait for their tooth gaps to be closed up using normal methods; lots of teens are risking tooth loss by trying out the new ‘gap band’ trend, which involves placing elastic bands around the teeth to pull them together and close up gaps. However, dentists are warning that anyone trying this is more likely to lose their teeth rather than get the perfect smile.
Numerous teens have posted videos of themselves starting the practice, according to The Metro, and some even claim that their tooth gaps were closed up in just a few weeks, compared to months or years it could take with conventional orthodontic treatment. Due to the price of dental care in the USA, this is becoming a popular trend across the pond, despite the risks of bone loss, root damage, and perhaps even tooth loss later on.
According to Juan Rendon, a Texas-based dentist who spoke to US website Refinery29, this practice could initially seem attractive as an alternative to expensive orthodontic treatment, but could ultimately leave the teeth in a very bad state. He said ‘when you move a tooth, the colour of the tooth might change because you are damaging the blood supply. You’re also going to have problems with your gums.’ If the gums are put under pressure this can cut off the blood supply and this can lead to inflammation, followed by infection and possibly tooth loss.