I make my own gnashers to fill the gaps in… it does turn yellow but I don’t want to fork out £5k for a new smile
A THRIFTY woman has demonstrated how she makes her own teeth to avoid forking out a fortune for a new smile.
Lacy Meeler, from the US, revealed she had to take drastic measures after being left with a gap in her smile.
According to the mother, she was given an estimate of an eye-watering £5k to fix her broken front tooth.
Although Lacy explained that she does have an appointment pencilled in at a dental school where the costs would be lower, this isn’t until May – and she’s desperate to have a temporary fix until then.
To avoid having to walk around with a gappy smile, the money-smart mum has been making DIY teeth at home – recently sharing a tutorial on this on TikTok.
Showing off her old DIY tooth online, Lacy said: ”The fake tooth will start to turn yellow after you eat.”
According to Lacy, she needs to replace the fake gnasher every two weeks or so, and she uses special moldable teeth beads – which you can find online for less than £5.
To make the fake tooth, Lacy first placed a cup of water in microwave for a minute, before chucking in a small handful of the beads and waited them to become clear.
”Now that they’re clear, you’re just going to mold them into the shape of a tooth,” she shared in the now-viral video, which has racked up over 2million views.
Once she had placed the molded tooth inside the gap at the front, Lacy took a huge gulp of cold water to set it in place properly.
Although she noted that it was ”easy peasy”, it’s important to remember that this is not a permanent solution – but rather, a temporary fix.
She went on: ”It doesn’t have to be perfect -because I guarantee, most people aren’t even going to notice it.”
While some reckoned the DIY tooth didn’t ”look natural”, the mum insisted it was ”better than no tooth at all”.
Answering viewers’ questions, Lacy claimed that she can still enjoy hot drinks, including coffee, without the temperatures affecting the mold.
The mother also added that the removal process, which she does twice a month, doesn’t hurt.
”I share this because I know I’m not alone and people sometimes need help to get through till they can get to the dentist,” she wrote.
Dentist-approved teeth whitening tips
ERIN Fraundorf, DMD, MSD, owner of BOCA Orthodontic + Whitening Studio in Missouri, shared her top tips for whiter teeth.
Seek whitening treatment from a professional. It’s often stronger and will be the most effective so you don’t waste your money on a product that doesn’t work or may harm you. You also only get one set of teeth, so it’s best not to experiment on them.
Consider the cause of the staining. There are numerous causes for teeth to have a yellow or brown tint. Be sure to get evaluated and diagnosed by a professional to ensure you receive the best treatment for your stains. Not all stains are the same so they may require different treatments.
Consider your lifestyle, smile goals, and budget. When choosing a whitening treatment that is best for you, consider multiple factors when designing a custom plan. Some people like homework to whiten at home, some prefer in-office treatments only, some need to get really bright really fast — for a wedding, for example — whereas others would like a more gentle, gradual, consistent approach to whitening.
Ease into it. Start integrating teeth whitening into your routine gradually to get your teeth accustomed to it and you can closely monitor your level of sensitivity to regulate how frequently you can whiten.
Try to prevent. Make tiny changes to your lifestyle in an effort to prevent staining from penetrating your teeth. For example, sip staining beverages through a straw, swish with plain water after drinking anything staining, and pick flat water over sparkling whenever possible.
Water floss to help in between the teeth stains. Blast away stubborn stains in between your teeth with a water flosser, because toothbrush bristles can only reach so much of your tooth surface.
‘Dental care is a luxury nowadays’
Since being posted on the platform – where Lacy shares content under the username @lacy_learns2luvherself – the clip has touched the hearts of many.
More than a whopping 600 people flooded to comments to thank the mum for bravely sharing her struggles – and helping those in a similar situation.
”this is sweet of you to demonstrate this to help people. not everyone can afford dentist appointments,” wrote one person.
”Dental care is a luxury nowadays. If this works for you then good on you! It does look good,” another chimed in.
”This is actually so sad,” thought a third.
”The things we take for granted. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this,” said a viewer.