Sir, I write to increase the awareness of a recent trend on the social media platform TikTok, which involves participants filing the incisal edges of their anterior teeth using a nail file to obtain a more even smile.

This trend, which is of course irreversible, poses many risks and patients must be educated by the dental community regarding these which obviously include hypersensitivity, damage to dental tissue, nerve damage and infection control. Patients may believe this a quick fix to their problems but correction of the damage would be a lengthy and often costly procedure. We have a duty as healthcare professionals to advocate against this alarming practice.