An Interview with Dr. Lena Hartmann, Lead Moderator of r/ThingsDentistsHate
In just under a year, r/ThingsDentistsHate has grown from a niche curiosity into one of Reddit’s most unexpectedly wholesome communities. With more than 400,000 members and a daily stream of posts ranging from mild dental chaos to earnest questions about oral health, the subreddit has become a gathering place for dentists, hygienists, and everyday people who just want to understand their teeth a little better.
To learn more about the community’s rise, we spoke with Dr. Lena Hartmann, a Zurich‑based dentist and the subreddit’s lead moderator. Warm, thoughtful, and quick to laugh, she’s become the unofficial voice of the community — part educator, part myth‑buster, part amused witness to humanity’s strangest dental habits.
🗣️ The Interview
Q: Dr. Hartmann, how did r/ThingsDentistsHate begin?
A: Honestly, it started as a joke between colleagues. We kept sending each other photos of things we’d seen — toothbrushes that should’ve retired years ago, retainers that had clearly been through an ordeal, that sort of thing. One day someone said, “This should be a subreddit.” I created it that evening. I thought maybe a few hundred people would join. I did not expect… this.
Q: What do you think made it take off?
A: People love seeing behind the curtain of any profession. And dentistry has this mix of mystery and guilt attached to it. Everyone assumes we’re judging them. We’re not — but we do see some wild things. The subreddit lets people laugh about that together. It’s cathartic. It’s also educational in a way that doesn’t feel preachy.
(See also: why expert‑driven communities thrive.)
Q: What kinds of posts tend to resonate the most?
A: Anything that feels universal. Someone posting their chewed‑up metal straw and asking, “Is this bad?” Or a parent discovering their toddler used a retainer as a teething toy. We also get a lot of “Rate My Enamel Risk” posts — people showing their snack lineup and bracing for judgment.
(Explore: enamel‑risk humor.)
Q: Do you have a favorite post?
A: There was one where a user found their roommate’s toothbrush in the shower, and it looked like it had been through a war. The top comment was from a hygienist who wrote, “This brush has seen things no bristles should see.” I still think about that one.
Q: Has anything surprised you about the community?
A: The kindness. I expected jokes — and we have plenty — but I didn’t expect so many people to ask genuine questions. We get posts like, “I’ve been embarrassed to ask my dentist this, but…” and the community responds with real empathy.
(See: how online communities reduce stigma.)
Q: Do dentists ever get frustrated by the posts?
A: Not really. If anything, it’s a reminder of how much misinformation is out there. When someone posts a TikTok whitening hack, we can explain why it’s harmful without shaming them. The goal isn’t to scold — it’s to help people understand their teeth better.
Q: What’s the biggest misconception people have about dentists?
A: That we’re angry when people don’t floss. We’re not angry. We’re just… concerned. Truly. We want people to keep their teeth for life. That’s the whole mission.
Q: What’s next for the subreddit?
A: We’re working on a monthly “Ask a Dentist” thread where professionals can answer questions in a structured way. We’re also considering a wiki of common myths — things like charcoal toothpaste, lemon‑juice whitening, and other trends we see a lot.
🦷 A Few Recent Posts the Mod Team Loved
- “My Dog Found My Retainer Before I Did”
A mangled retainer and a very guilty Labrador in the background.
Top comment: “Your dog is fine. You, however, owe your orthodontist an apology.” - “I Tried a TikTok Whitening Hack and Now My Teeth Feel Too Smooth”
Top comment from a dentist: “You exfoliated your enamel. Please don’t do that again.” - “Dental Crime of the Day: My Partner’s Toothbrush”
A toothbrush that looks like it’s been used to scrub concrete.
Top comment: “This brush has seen more action than a power tool.”
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