Dentist's trick makes disposable face masks 'more protective'

A Canadian dentist has shared a very clever — and easy — trick for making disposable surgical masks even more effective.

Dr. Olivia Cui, DMD, posted a how-to video on TikTok, showing her 'mask hack' that makes 'a regular mask more protective.'

With a couple quick knots and some simple maneuvering, Dr. Cui demonstrates how to close the gap that can form on either side of the mask, preventing more particles from getting out and in.

Clever! Dr. Olivia Cui, DMD, posted a how-to video on TikTok, showing her 'mask hack' that makes 'a regular mask more protective'

'As you can see, the sides of your face are left very exposed to the outside,' she says

First: She instructs viewers to fold their masks in half length-ways and then tie each ear loop in a knot on either side

In a voiceover, Dr. Cui explains that people should start by washing their hands, since germs and bacteria can be transferred from hands to the mask.

She then puts on her disposable surgical mask, turning her head to show gaps at the sides.

'As you can see, the sides of your face are left very exposed to the outside,' she says.

To fix this, she instructs viewers to fold their masks in half length-ways and then tie each ear loop in a knot on either side.

The knot should form as close as possible to the mask itself, leaving enough loop left over for the ears.

'This is a great trick for anyone with smaller faces, 'cause you will have a better fitted mask' she notes.

Next step: She tucks the openings underneath the ear loops to close them up, and finally puts the tweaked mask on her face

'In absence of N95s, this might be a good alternative,' she says

'This is a great trick for anyone with smaller faces, 'cause you will have a better fitted mask' she notes

Spreading around: Dr. Cui's video has gone viral, with 3.4 million views since it was posted on TikTok June 22

Then, she unfolds the mask, showing that it now as more of a cup shape — but there are little openings at the ends near the ear loop knots.

Here, she tucks the openings underneath the ear loops to close them up, and finally puts the tweaked mask on her face.

'In absence of N95s, this might be a good alternative,' she says.

Dr. Cui's video has gone viral, with 3.4 million views since it was posted on TikTok June 22.

It's racked up even more views on Instagram, where Katie Couric, Kristen Bell, and others have shared the trick.