AFP – With their flawless smiles, online beauty influencers have skillfully convinced young followers that achieving bright, perfectly aligned teeth is quick, easy, and affordable. However, dentists have cautioned that the teeth whitening and straightening products promoted through sponsored ads on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok can pose serious risks if not used correctly. Additionally, many companies selling these low-cost, at-home solutions often fail to deliver on their bold promises.
The United States (US)-based firm Smile-DirectClub aggressively advertised online for its “clear aligners”, which are plastic braces worn daily to straighten teeth. However, the firm filed for bankruptcy last year, leaving many customers in the lurch. Chantelle Jones, a 32-year-old Briton who paid the firm GBP1,800, only had her top teeth straightened and never received the bottom moulds.
“I’m not sure if I’m going to get any money back,” she told the BBC. The company has announced its ‘Lifetime Smile Guarantee’ simply “no longer exists”, advising customers to seek professional help. But because a dentist did not initiate the process, they would “have to start everything from scratch”, French dental surgeon Dr Genevieve Wagner said.
These types of products are not used solely for aesthetic purposes, said orthodontist Dr David Couchat of the French Federation of Orthodontics. “Aligning a few incisors can happen quickly, but there is a lot of work .