The smiles of Hollywood stars can be mesmerizing — how did their teeth get so white, so straight, so dazzlingly perfect? In an effort to unpick these questions on everybody’s lips (or rather just behind them), dentists have started taking to social media to analyze the teeth of celebrities.
The trend sees dentists look at before and after pictures of actors and popstars, pontificating about what cosmetic work they must have had done in the years since becoming famous. Those to have had the “ToothTok” treatment include Taylor Swift, Emma Watson and Victoria Beckham, with videos that explain the histories of their smiles racking up millions of views.
Common questions include the “veneer check” to identify if celebrities have any veneers, when a custom-made ceramic shell is individually fitted on the front of each tooth. Dentists also give their verdict on whether celebrities have had root canal treatment, braces or whitening treatments.
One video by Dr. Vikas Prinja, whose TikTok account The London Dentist has 12.7 million likes, explains that a young Taylor Swift had “crowded front teeth” and “peg-shaped lateral incisors.” However, she’s since had braces and veneers (although her front teeth remain natural) to create a “beautiful smile.”
Dr. Rhona Eskander, the owner of Chelsea Dental Clinic in London, has also got millions of likes on her TikTok videos analyzing celebrity smiles. In one she lays bare Victoria Beckham’s “teeth secrets,” saying it is likely she has had a gum lift and a full set of veneers.
Eskander also explains that Margot Robbie’s natural “pointy canines” make it “one of the best smiles I’ve ever seen,” adding: “When I’ve been doing smile makeovers patients have been asking me just for this.”
The smile transformation of the Girls Aloud star, Cheryl Cole, is another favorite on ToothTok. We are told she has “definitely had veneers” to create a wider smile that means she now has between ten and 12 teeth showing when she smiles, compared to six when she first shot to fame.
While the world of TikTok dentistry is growing increasingly popular, some experts are concerned it is pushing patients toward unnecessary treatments.
The British Dental Association is particularly concerned about influencers advising on hacks including fashioning braces out of elastic bands, and DIY teeth-whitening using household cleaning products.
Its chairman, Eddie Crouch, said: “When it comes to imitating their idols, users need to be very wary of any DIY ‘hacks.’ Some influencers are offering unwary followers an instruction manual for self-mutilation.”
Meanwhile Dr. Sam Jethwa, the president-elect of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, said he sees patients in clinic “come to me with a picture of a specific celebrity’s smile that they like.”
Jethwa, who runs the Bespoke Smile dental practice in Marlow and London, said dentists are usually able to tell from a picture what work a celebrity has had done. “A highly qualified cosmetic dentist will be able to get a pretty good insight into the cosmetic dentistry treatment the celebrity has had. We perform these procedures day in day out, so spotting them is part of our job,” he said.
“We have moved away from the trend of bright, white Hollywood smiles, with people opting for subtle treatments that leave people guessing. I think this contributes to the popularity of celebrity smile transformation videos.”
But there is a “dangerous side” to TikTok with several videos offering “incorrect and potentially very harmful advice”. Jethwa said: “One video consisted of an influencer removing their braces with a spoon — which goes without saying, is incredibly dangerous. The concern is that these videos are not policed by TikTok, and TikTok users may copy dangerous videos like this, without being aware of the consequences.
“However, when it comes to qualified dentists who are using the platform to educate users, I believe this can be really beneficial. I also think that the celebrity smile transformation videos can enlighten patients to the cosmetic treatments available, if it is something they were considering.”
Jethwa added: “The problem with TikTok is that nowadays, anyone can be an ‘expert’, and it can be difficult to differentiate between who is actually qualified to discuss cosmetic dentistry and oral health, and who is not.”
Eleanor Hayward is the health editor at The Times of London
