Tooth gems may be safe when your dentist applies them, but there are still risks

You can pierce just about any body part, including lips and tongues. But if you want to add a little sparkle to your teeth, a traditional piercing isn’t an option.

Enter the latest mouth trend: tooth gems.

Dentist Anne Clemons, DMD, shares the lowdown on tooth gems, whether they’re safe, and how they should go on and come off.

What are tooth gems?

“A tooth gem is a jewel or gem that gets attached to a tooth, like tooth jewelry,” says Dr. Clemons.

Attaching a tooth gem is a painless, straightforward procedure that doesn’t require any of the usual dreaded dental tools like novocain shots, pointy metal scrapers or drills. “Generally, the dentist doesn’t have to change the tooth to prepare it for a tooth gem. Or if they do, it’s a minor change,” clarifies Dr. Clemons.

Putting on a tooth gem is like getting a bracket for braces cemented to your tooth. To put one on, your dentist:

  • Ensures your tooth is healthy and preps its surface
  • Places a bit of a strong bonding material (special glue) on your tooth
  • Places the gem on top of the dab of bonding material, which adheres it to your tooth

Is it safe to get tooth gems?

Yes, it’s relatively safe to get tooth gems — as long as a dentist puts them on and you keep up with your regular dental visits. “I don’t necessarily recommend tooth gems,” notes Dr. Clemons. “But if done correctly, it’s a fairly harmless thing to do, especially compared to some other tooth jewelry we’ve seen, such as grills.”

A grill is more elaborate than a gem, typically a decorative piece that fits over several teeth. Grills come with a bigger risk of tooth decay, gum disease and other problems.

Do tooth gems damage your teeth?

“If the tooth gem is applied by a professional, the risk of harm is low. But they could still damage your teeth,” cautions Dr. Clemons. As tooth gems provide a happy little place for bacteria to grow, there’s a possibility of:

Are tooth gems permanent?

No, tooth gems aren’t permanent. The gem may stay on for months or even a couple of years, depending on your mouth chemistry, dental hygiene and other factors. But it won’t stay on forever.

“As with braces, some people just can’t seem to keep brackets on their teeth, and they have to see their orthodontist all the time to get them reattached,” reports Dr. Clemons. “But other people don’t run into this problem at all. It’s probably the same with tooth gems, and it’s hard to predict from person to person how long they’ll last.”

How do you remove tooth gems?

“At some point, the gem may come off on its own. We put a lot of force on our teeth, and the mouth is a pretty hostile environment,” states Dr. Clemons. “You may swallow the tooth gem, but it’s small, so there’s probably not much of an impact.”

If the gem doesn’t fall off on its own, your dentist has special tools to remove it. The process may involve grinding away some of the glue to help loosen the gem. Once the gem is off, your dentist will polish off any remaining glue to get back to the smooth surface of your enamel.

Should you use a DIY tooth gem kit?

Dr. Clemons doesn’t recommend do-it-yourself tooth gem kits. “There’s really no way for you to know whether your tooth is healthy enough for something like a tooth gem,” she says.

If you risk a DIY kit, potential problems include:

  • Lack of proper adhesion. The gem probably won’t last as long as a gem applied by a dentist.
  • Toxin exposure. You run the risk that the materials — either the glue or the gem itself — aren’t designed to be used in your mouth. You may unknowingly expose yourself to toxins.
  • Damage or decay. You’re more likely to end up with dental problems. If you put tooth gem glue on a tooth that hasn’t been properly prepped or isn’t healthy, it could result in damage, even a cavity.

If you want to jump on the tooth gem trend, make sure your oral health routine is in order and have your dentist do the actual bejeweling. Even if you don’t want a tooth gem, Dr. Clemons reminds us, “It’s really important to see a dentist regularly.”

Many dental problems aren’t obvious or even visible in the mirror, and dental health is essential not just for your teeth and gums, but also for your mental and overall health.