Dental grillz, made from gold and often decorated with jewels, were made popular by hip-hop artists in the 1980s. While celebrities from Beyoncé to Rihanna and Chris Brown have been bringing back the trend of decorative mouthwear, dentists warn they can do serious damage to your mouth and teeth.
"Many of the grillz worn by celebrities are clip-ons, so there is less risk of damage compared to grillz which are permanently fixed to the teeth," dentist Lance Knight told the Daily Mail, adding that "the important thing is that they fit properly. Just like crowns, dentures and bridges, if something is well-made by a professional dentist and it's properly fitted it shouldn't cause problems."
If grillz are not fitted properly to your mouth, they can wear away at your teeth's enamel, leading to painful headaches and toothaches. Used over a long period of time, and a badly fitted pair can permanently move your teeth into unhealthy new positions.
"Ill-fitting grills can cause tooth decay, infection and even movement of the teeth, which could lead to needing braces to realign the teeth," Knight said. "There could be an increased risk of damage to your teeth if you were accidentally knocked in the mouth - for example if someone bumped into you while you were drinking from a bottle or glass. Normally your lips would protect you, but if you had this bulky object in your mouth the grillz could cause damage to your gums or lips, particularly if they had diamonds or sharp edges. There is also a risk of jaw problems if the 'bite' is not set correctly as your mouth would be propped open in an awkward position."
Knight explained that when grillz are poorly made, the substances they contain can also cause allergic reactions.
Removable and permanent gold teeth are in fashion with many celebrities, worn proudly by Kanye West, Ke$ha, Madonna, Lana Del Rey, Nelly, Ryan Lochte, A$AP Rocky, Chris Brown, Wiz Khalifa, Gucci Mane, Wacka Flocka Flame and most recently, Miley Cyrus, a status symbol of wealth and prosperity.
However, being purely decorative, dentists warn not to wear them for extended periods of time.
"The clip-on fashion statement can also cause bacteria to build up between teeth, which can lead to infections in both the gums and teeth, which can lead to extensive tooth decay and the onset of gum disease," warned Knight. "This could well lead to needing root canals, dental implants, porcelain veneers or other reconstructive dentistry."
