First reported on BuzzFeed, TikToker @cianmcbrien wrote in their new video: "JUST FOUND OUT THE DENTIST CAN FIND OUT WETHER SOMEONE HAS GIVEN [HEAD] OR NOT. IM SCREAMINGGGGG."
The claim, which is going bonkers on the app, eventually saw dentists and hygienists weighing in — and yes, it turns out the rumours are true.
"Yeah, sometimes we can tell," TikTok dentist @thyrants said in one viral response. "And it's usually bruising on the soft palate called petechiae. But unless the patient's really young or shows signs of abuse, we don't care."
"Hey, I'm a registered dental hygienist. Let's talk about this," TikTok user @mandimaeee responded in another viral video. "So a friend of mine sent me this video and was like, 'Oh my god, Is this true?' Yes, it is."
"To say that I'd be able to tell if you did it three years ago? No," she continued.
"But if you did it recently and you were a little bit aggressive about it ... Some individuals might have, um, bruising to the palate, if you know what I'm saying. Soooo yes, we can tell."
TikToker Carter Gallo also asked his mother, a hygienist, about the rumour, and her response went viral: "Oh, yeah. Oh, totally ... There are some things we just keep secret in the profession."
"I used to get these high school girls that would come in Monday morning to get their teeth cleaned, and I'd ask them how their weekend was. And they'd go, "Oh, it was fine, I didn't really do too much." And you're looking in their mouth and you're thinking, Mhmm, you did a lot more than 'not too much.' Yeah, those were the best."
Dr. Huzefa Kapadia, a general dentist in Michigan, also addressed the claims in a viral video that has amassed over 33 million views.
"Okay, here we go. Palatal petechiae. This is what it's called. If you like, let's say, sucking on a lollipop. One or two here or there, not a big deal. But let's say you like to suck on multiple, multiple, multiple, multiple lollipops all the time — you got a problem."
"It's gonna cause palatal petechiae, which is seen right here," he said. "As you can see, bruising of the soft palate and irritation, right there."
Paranoid? Fair enough.
