Week in Review: Ergonomics 101 | Dentistry is essential | Must-know TikTok trend

Dear DrBicuspid Member,

The most important piece of ergonomic equipment in a dental practice is not a chair, loupe, instrument, or handpiece. In fact, it doesn't come with a price tag, but you can't practice safely without it, according to registered dental hygienist Stephanie Botts.

Mindset is the most important component for practicing ergonomically and safely, Botts wrote in our top story of the week. In the article, she broke down why mindset and body awareness are essential for safe dentistry, while also providing some tips to help you quickly evaluate your posture.

Dentistry is essential -- so why doesn't it feel that way?

You know that oral healthcare is an essential component of overall health and wellness. But why does it feel like the rest of the world doesn't always see it that way?

In a multifaceted opinion piece, Dr. Fred S. Ferguson explored steps the dental industry can take to boost its value to the larger medical ecosystem. Some recommended actions include sharing information about oral health management with other specialties and connecting dental data to larger health outcomes.

One group that needs to take note about the importance of oral health is athletes, according to Martijn Verhulst, PhD. In an article published just in time for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo next week, Verhulst cited research showing that athletes and sports organizations have low awareness about the importance of oral health.

Verhulst shared some surprising facts about why elite and amateur athletes should care about their teeth and gums. For instance, some athletes, like swimmers, are at a higher risk for dental disease due to their competitive environments. Furthermore, in sports decided by extremely small margins, an untreated toothache could mean the difference between going home with a medal or not.

Mouth-locking device update

Last week, we shared details about a new oral device that locks a patient's mouth closed to help spur weight loss. Turns out, not everyone is thrilled with the invention.

This week, the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) released a position statement that denounced the use of the device, citing "grave ethical concern." The AED Medical Care Standards Committee feared that the mouth lock promotes a starvation diet and criticized the inventors for not performing a psychological evaluation of the patients or checking for medical complications related to malnutrition.

Whitening teeth with a Magic Eraser

There's a new TikTok trend you may want to warn your patients about: using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to whiten one's teeth. In a viral video, a woman claimed to use the sponges to whiten her teeth. (She also said she avoids fluoride.)

Dentists were quick to condemn the use of Magic Erasers for teeth whitening, citing concerns about the health of the woman's enamel. The melamine foam sponges carry a warning advising against their use on skin or body parts, and the TikTok video now has a disclaimer that the action in this video could result in serious injury.