Dental fashion trends: are they harmful to your health?

Dental fashion trends, such as ‘grills’ and tattoos, come and go, but should you get them and what harm can they do?

From teeth jewellery to fake braces and from flavoured toothpaste to oral piercings, dental fashion trends have been around for decades. But while they may provide you with the look you want, they also may not be good for your teeth and your overall dental health.

Here we take a look at some of the more popular trends.

American teeth

‘American teeth’ are essentially ones that are so white and straight that they resemble those of Hollywood stars. The look is achieved through using whitening treatments. However, it should be borne in mind that home whitening kits aren’t always effective and may damage teeth and gums.

For this reason, it is crucial to use professional whitening kits provided by your dentist. He or she will be able to advise you if whitening is suitable for you.

Teeth jewellery

This trend has been around for some time and became really popular in the 1980s when hip-hop stars from the US started putting gold or silver ‘grills’ (or ‘grillz’) over their front teeth. These temporary ‘veneers’ are usually glued on to the teeth.

Similar to this trend, dental jewellery is where small gems or stones are attached to your front teeth. The problem with these is that the glue or dental adhesive used to attach the jewels can ruin your enamel. If your enamel is damaged, you then leave yourself open to risk of infection and tooth decay. They can also be drilled in but that is quite a serious step for a piece of jewellery.

Tooth tattoos

Tooth tattoos are a popular trend that began with celebrities and then grew popular in the United States over the last decade. They are generally done with an enamel overlay and often require a dentist and tattoo artist working together.

The tattoo artist will paint the tattoo onto your crown – tattoos can only be applied to crowns and not natural teeth – which your dentist will then fit. If done with supervision, it is a relatively safe procedure.

However, many dentists think it is unnecessary and that if you want to attract attention to your teeth, keep them clean, bright and white.

Tooth make-up

As the name suggests, it involves putting make-up on your teeth so that you can have different colours, shades and designs on them. A special dental polish is used so that it doesn’t get affected by food or drink and can be brushed off using your toothbrush and toothpaste.

Oral piercings

Piercings on both tongues and lips have been popular for some time, but most dentists do not recommend them. They can often change the shape of your mouth and cause permanent damage. They also put your mouth at a much higher risk of infection, particularly if you don’t have an excellent oral hygiene routine.

People also tend to touch or fiddle with their oral piercings which can result in cracked teeth which can in turn lead to the necessity of more serious intervention by your dentist.

Fashion braces

Where once braces were thought of as an unwanted necessity, ‘fake’ fashion braces are now popular among certain people and are seen as a symbol of wealth and status. They are made from wire and brackets and are usually clipped onto back teeth. They have different colours and patterns so are similar to the teeth jewellery mentioned above.

However, they are not generally fitted by a dentist and serve no orthodontic purpose, so can potentially cause damage to teeth, particularly in developing mouths. There is also a risk associated with the glue and the materials used. These ‘faux’ braces have also been linked with issues such as mouth sores, discolouration and decay.

Vampire teeth

While not as widespread as they once were, ‘fangs’ or vampire teeth were made popular by the plethora of films and television shows featuring vampires, such as Twilight. They are also worn by those in the ‘goth’ communities. They are similar to temporary veneers and can be fitted whenever the user wants to wear them.

They can also be made permanent but this is not recommended by most dental professionals as it can create unnecessary risks later in life.

The gap

Where once gaps were considered as something that might need to be fixed using orthodontics, fashion subsequently dictated that a gap between your two front teeth was ‘cute’ and desirable. In general, dentists will recommend against this and will aim for you to have evenly spaced teeth which are easier to care for.

Summary

Fashion trends in teeth are not something dentists would recommend for their patients. They carry too much risk for too little return. Our dentists will always recommend that the best fashion statement in teeth is to keep them clean and white by eating and drinking sensibly, getting regular check-ups and having an effective cleaning regime.

To find out about all the general, specialist and cosmetic treatments available in Northumberland Dental Care and to book an appointment, visit our website here: www.dentalcareireland.ie/nidm/