Gold Teeth Seem to be Back in Fashion – Should You Get Yours?

Last September, Kim Kardashian was pictured in mini grillz, as gold teeth are also known.  This February, Kendall Jenner was photographed in a much bolder variant and a massive hoodie while out and about.  It has left many wondering if grillz are back in fashion.  

If you scroll through Instagram for a few minutes, you can be sure to find cool photos suggesting that we could be seeing a return to the days of shiny gold teeth for anyone that can afford them.

The History of Gold Teeth in Fashion

Grillz are not new.  They have been in existence since the Ancient Egyptians who historians believe were the first users.  The wealthy and status-conscious Italians of the mid-1800s made it a trend in that era, and rappers in the eighties and nineties used it to show off affluence.  In some parts of the world, people that have completed the Muslim pilgrimage use grillz to show that they are part of an elite group.   

It is 2017, and it looks like the Kardashians and Jenners are about to make gold teeth great again.

Should You Jump on The Wagon?

As mainstream celebrities are making a case for the comeback of grillz, it is only natural that fashion enthusiasts will be bursting at the seams to get in on the act.   Before you get on board though, you need to be certain that you understand what you are getting into.

To decide if you should get on the gold teeth train, you need to work out how they affect your oral health.

In the past, dentists used gold as a substance to create dental fillings. Modern day dentists no longer use gold grillz as teeth fillings as you may know them for two main reasons. Firstly, gold is expensive and that isn’t changing anytime soon. This now makes it an impractical choice for dentists and the bulk of their clientele. Secondly, the rise of substances like composite resin fillings mean that dentists now have more durable, malleable and natural looking materials to create fillings.  This is why people from older generations are more likely to have gold fillings and interestingly, many of them go to the dentists for less shiny fillings as they age.

Are Grillz Recommended by Dentists?

Dentists all around the world agree that anyone can wear gold grillz but they will not recommend them. “There has been no conclusive evidence that wearing [grillz] can damage your teeth but we always advise our patients to go for other options,” says Dr Neil Oza at Advanced Dental Concepts located in Hammond, Louisiana. “If you insist on [grillz], you must be ready to work with your dentist to find a perfect fit and a reputable manufacturer that can provide safe [ones]. Careless filling can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, plaque build-up, enamel erosion and more.”

“To be on the safe side, do not wear [grillz] created without reference to your dental mould as it is the only way to be sure that [it] will adequately conform to the unique contours of your teeth and mouth”.

Even when you have the perfect set of grillz, you need to avoid wearing them for more than 4 hours at a time and never go to bed with them.

So if you are get tempted to get on the gold grillz trend, you need to consider the risks and the financial commitment required to get a proper fit.  The fashion trend may not be here for long, so be sure you aren’t jeopardising your oral health!