India, June 5 -- A woman from China's southeastern Fujian province narrowly avoided a medical disaster after she attempted to make a dental retainer at home using plaster, instead of the correct material, and ended up nearly suffocating, reported the South China Morning Post.

The 24-year-old, surnamed Wu, had intended to create an orthodontic retainer but did not have time to visit a dentist due to her work schedule. To save time and money, she purchased a dental impression kit online that came with a set of tools and instructions for home use.

According to the guide, Wu was supposed to take an impression of her teeth and gums using trays filled with alginate, a seaweed-based material that can be safely removed from the mouth. She was t...