Following trends and being fashionable are very important parts of some people’s lives no matter how good or bad, pretty or ugly it is. Among all those hair trends such as undercuts, vibrant colors, shaved heads to retro clothes that are considered trendy and must-have, there is one particular trend that can actually harm your health. I am talking about grills. Having “bling bling” on your teeth appeared years ago as a trend, but no one believed that it will stick and now, we see them on almost every celebrity’s teeth. You might even remember a popular song from a singer called Nelly named “Grillz” released back in 2006 that celebrates these very expensive pieces of jewelry for your teeth. However, is this really good enough for you to risk your health?
The materials used to make them
Grills are mouthpieces traditionally made from gold, platinum, rose gold or silver that are embellished with all sorts of jewelry. The purpose of wearing grillz is no other than showing off. Rich hip-hop artists and rappers started wearing them during the 1980’s, but nowadays, even sportsmen wear them. The trend reappeared in 2013/2014 and it was preferred by women and young girls. During the last year, “fashion experts” combined this trend with yet another trend – vampires. All those popular shows and movies about vampires also resulted in people wearing grillz in the shape of vampire fangs, and some even opted for this as a permanent solution. Everybody from Beyoncé, Rihanna to Katy Perry has at least one pair of unique and interesting grillz, but this doesn’t stop here. Some artist order custom made ones that are worth thousands of dollars and they even place them on their teeth permanently – something like dental crowns and dental bridges, but much, much more expensive. Others prefer those that are removable and that will do less damage to their teeth.
Of course, celebrities who can afford this need not worry about the health of their teeth as it is beyond any doubt that their grillz are of exquisite quality, but what happens with their fans and those who see them as idols, when a mere mortal wishes to wear grills and cannot afford them? Well, people who want to make some money take advantage of these kinds of things and this is how we get the mass production of low quality, metal grills.
How bad are they really?
Improperly crafted grillz can be really harmful for the health of your teeth. Firstly, the quality of the material these are made of is questionable and it can even poison us. Then, it can ruin our enamel and cause cavities and even cracks on our teeth. In addition, because these grillz are “universal”, putting them on your teeth might cause some misalignment of your teeth. “There are so many additional problems such as the discoloration of teeth and there is a possibility of developing gum diseases such as gingivitis or periodontitis” claims Dr. Ashlea Drakeford from Dallas.
Then again, saving money on materials to make grillz can lead to different allergies and it can be life threatening in extreme situations. Sharp edges of these mouthpieces can make cankers and cuts in your mouth, and if your teeth are much smaller than those that were used as mold, then you might damage your jawbone. I am not even going to mention the harmful effect grillz have on our teeth when they become infested with bacteria.
You don’t have to be noticed by doing something that is not going to benefit your health. Even if it might seem as something completely safe and you might think that you are “not going to wear them that often” you are under the risk of damaging your teeth if you decide to wear them. Thinking only about now and forgetting that you are going to need you teeth in the future can lead you to great dental problems. The next time you decide to imitate your favorite celebrity, stop and think about whether you are making the right choice. Not everything that you see in magazines and on the internet is good for you, remember that. Creating your own style and trend is equally interesting, don’t you think so?