Tooth Gems: All You Should Know About Teeth Jewels in 2023
With tooth gems trending all over social media, we’ll dive into this trend and answer all your questions!
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Tooth gems seemingly appeared back in the late ’90s and early 2000s – but they were actually around for much, much longer than that. The first records of this type of jewelry date all the way back to around 300 A.D. and the Mayan Empire!
And as trends (even ancient ones) tend to do, this one is coming right back to take center stage. Recently, we’ve been seeing more and more influencers putting rhinestones on teeth and absolutely rocking the look.
But is this trend really something you should take part in? Is it even safe to do?
This guide is here to try to answer all your questions about the tooth gems trend, so read on and find everything you should know before getting them!
What Are Tooth Gems?
Tooth gems are exactly what they sound like – gems that you attach to your teeth with a powerful dental adhesive. Their only purpose is self-expression – tooth gems aren’t that much different from a tattoo, piercing, or some hair dye.
It’s always been human nature to try and customize our appearance as much as we can, especially in this era where it’s getting super hard to stand out. So, that fact, paired with the Y2K revival we’re seeing all over the fashion world, means that it was just a matter of time before we saw teeth jewelry make a comeback.
The upside is that tooth gems aren’t permanent, so those who decide to experiment with the trend aren’t making too big of a commitment. But, are there any risks to it?
Are Tooth Gems Safe?
To answer the biggest question anyone considering this trend has right now – yes, tooth gems are safe if you don’t have any dental issues and place the jewel carefully.
If your teeth are more sensitive than the average person’s, you already have some dental problems, a lot of cavities, or anything else that is making you reconsider tooth gems, it’s best to stay safe and sit this trend out.
On the other side, if your teeth are healthy and you’re set on getting them bedazzled, we advise you to go to a professional to get it done.
At-home options are available (and we’re not totally against them), but the placement of the gem is crucial – so if you’re not an expert dentist, seeing one about a tooth gem might be the best approach.
How to Prepare for a Dental Jewelry Appointment
If you’re ready and set to go get your dental jewellery done, there are a few more things to keep in mind before your appointment. The first thing is that you should consult with your dentist beforehand. Go to a checkup, ask all your questions, and make sure you have a professional’s green light.
Other than that, you have to make sure your teeth are clean when you go in. If you have the time and money, you can get them professionally cleaned, but if not, a thorough brushing and flossing will do.
On the day of the appointment itself, eat a big breakfast. After you get your gem, you won’t be able to eat anything for a few hours, so it’s better to go in with a full stomach than to spend the rest of your day starving.
Finally, we suggest you bring some lip balm and water with you. Like any other dentist’s appointment, this one will dry out your lips and mouth, so go prepared.
TIP
Bring an inspo pic with you. This way, you won’t waste half of your appointment choosing the color, design, and size of the gems.
What Does Getting Teeth Jewelry Look Like?
In its essence, a tooth gem appointment looks like any other visit to the dentist (but a lot less scary). There is absolutely no pain involved since the dentist is just sticking the gems onto your teeth.
Your teeth will be exposed for the full duration of the appointment, so if you’re sensitive to the cold air, that’s the only discomfort you’ll be feeling. If anything else starts to hurt, let the dentist know, that means that there’s a problem.
The appointment doesn’t usually last too long, but this depends on how many gems you want and how complex is the design you asked for. After it’s done, it’ll take a few days for you to get used to it, but you won’t even be able to feel the tooth gem after that.
Tooth Gem After Care
When it comes to tooth gem aftercare, there’s not a lot for you to worry about – most of the rules apply to the first few hours following the appointment. After that, it’s all about making sure you don’t accidentally tear it off with food or a toothbrush.
We’re going to list out some general rules here, but it’s best to ask your dentist to give you tips & instructions and try to stick to them as best as you can.
Here’s what you should keep in mind:
- Don’t eat or drink anything for at least 2 hours
- Don’t chew gum that day
- Don’t smoke for at least the first hour
- Don’t eat anything acidic for the first 24 hours – that’s how long it takes for the adhesive to fully set
- Don’t brush your teeth for the first 12 hours
- Switch out your electric toothbrush for a regular one for at least a couple of days
- Don’t play with or pick at the gem, you could accidentally dislodge it.
Are Tooth Gems Permanent?
As we already briefly mentioned above, no, tooth gems aren’t permanent.
On one side, this is good because you don’t have to commit to the look if you’re just participating in the trend for the time being. But, if you’re absolutely in love with the concept and want to rock it forever, you’re going to have to get it redone every once in a while.
So, How Long Do Tooth Gems Last?
On average, the lifespan of a tooth gem is around 6 months. However, if you’re very careful with it and follow all the aftercare instructions, the limit can be pushed to up to 12 months.
Can a Tooth Gem Fall Off?
Unfortunately, yes.
The adhesive that is used to stick the gem to your tooth is pretty strong, but it’s not indestructible. It can fall off if you forcefully rip it off, which can also happen by accident when, for example, you eat hard foods or brush your teeth too aggressively.
As the adhesive softens over time, the likelihood of the gem falling off increases each time you get it wet.
How to Remove Tooth Gem?
If you find yourself among the lucky few that doesn’t experience the tooth gem just falling off on its own, you’ll also be glad to know that the removal process isn’t anything to worry about either.
Even if you put the gems on yourself, the removal should be done by a professional. As steady-handed as you may be, if you’re not a dental professional, you’re risking damaging your tooth’s enamel in the process.
When you go in for the removal, the dentist will use a small tool that resembles a wooden spatula to pry the gem off. After that, they’ll use their professional cleaning tools & products to make sure that no adhesive is left behind.
Are There Any Side Effects to Getting Teeth Jewels?
If the procedure is done perfectly, there should be no negative effects of a tooth crystals. However, we all know that that’s not always the case – especially if you decide to do it at home.
If the gem you chose is too big or incorrectly placed, it can end up irritating and cutting into your gums.
Although just annoying at first, this can cause major trouble later, since the irritation will persist for months on end.
Similarly, removing the tooth gem at home with makeshift tools can also be damaging, as it can pull off a layer of the enamel with it. This can also occur if the gem is accidentally ripped off, so make sure to be careful.
After the removal, it’s essential to remove all excess adhesive that was left behind. Otherwise, it can serve as a place that will accumulate bacteria and other impurities over time, leading to tooth decay and a plethora of other issues.
Finally, it’s also possible to have an allergic reaction to the adhesive. This can easily be avoided by requesting a patch test and informing your dentist of any other allergies you may have.
Contraindications for Teeth Jewels
When it comes to who can get tooth gems, there aren’t a lot of contraindications. Firstly, this procedure isn’t wise to do if your teeth are generally sensitive or they may end up getting damaged, especially during the removal process.
If you’re suffering from tooth decay or other issues you may also want to rethink the procedure.
People with implants or crowns are also generally advised against teeth jewelry, but this depends on the nature of the materials used.
Either way, it’s best to consult with your dentist about whether you should get tooth gems, and take their advice seriously.
How Much Do Tooth Gems Cost?
The total price depends on the gems themselves as well as the cost of getting them installed. The gems can either be crystals or actual gems, in which case you’re looking to pay a lot more money.
The price for one gem ranges between $1 and $100, while the procedure costs between $50 and $80.
Where Do You Get Tooth Gems Done?
Ideally, you’ll get your tooth gems done at a dentist’s office. However, some dentists refuse to provide this service, while others may not even have it on the menu. If you’re able to find one that does tooth gems in your area, go to them.
If not, this service is also sometimes available at beauty salons or tattoo studios. In that case, we advise you to check the credentials of the person doing the gems, since dental knowledge is required for the task – if you wanted an amateur to do it, you would do it at home.
Can You Do Tooth Gems at Home?
In theory, yes, but it’s not advisable. If you really wanted to, you could do tooth gems at home, but that would require lots and lots of research beforehand.
You’ll need to know all about the correct placement so that you don’t damage your gums. You’ll also need to see a dentist to do a general check-up and make sure you’re good to go.
After you’re done with your jewel, you’ll also need to go see a professional to remove it for you, unless you want to risk damaging your enamel.
In short, you can do this with a lot of prep work. So, it might be easier to just invest all that time and money into getting tooth gems professionally done.
So, How Long Do Tooth Gems Last?
If you’re committed to doing the gems yourself and won’t change your mind, here are the best gem sets we found on Amazon!
The first kit is a TikTok favorite and it’s the Amazon best-seller in this category. It’s also very highly rated.
The second kit offers a wider variety of jewels to choose from, with different shapes and sizes available. The rating here is somewhat lower, but so is the price – so choose what works best for you.
Tooth Gems – Main Takeaways
To bring our guide to a close, we’ll restate the answer to everyone’s biggest question: tooth gems are safe if done correctly. For that reason, doing them at home is a possibility only if you’re willing to do all the necessary research and preparations.
So, if you’re ready to hop on the trend yourself, we say go for it! But, to be on the safe side, consult with a dentist first.
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