From Pearly Whites to Gleaming Gems
Photo by Caleigh McCrink
Three years ago I stood in front of my bathroom mirror, disgusted by what I saw looking back at me: a girl who still had to deal with the pain of braces four years after their first installation. Someone with cuts in her cheeks, caused by the wires attaching the brackets to my teeth for “just another month,” as my orthodontist would say, to provoke false relief. Once I got my braces off, I never wanted to deal with anything on my teeth again… until I found out about tooth gems.
The first time I got them, I went for one. Right after my appointment, I wanted to go back to get a second one right away. Next thing I knew, I just couldn’t quit smiling. I would look in the mirror and watch as they changed colors in the light. I no longer saw the girl who wouldn’t dare to smile in pictures. I never thought I would get to the point where I would be satisfied with my smile, but here I was, smiling back at the same girl I used to see, but this time, her smile was accompanied by a fresh set of tooth gems.
If you open Instagram right now, there’s a high probability that the celebrities you follow have recently posted pictures flaunting their tooth decor. But when and why did this come to be? Many assume that tooth decor originated with the introduction of “grills” to the hip-hop scene, as rappers are constantly referencing them in their songs. In Lil Wayne’s “Days and Days,” he mentions how the diamonds in his teeth make all his words “precious.” Surprisingly, tooth gems and decor trace back to ancient Mesoamerican customs. The Mayans accessorized their teeth with precious stones such as jade, turquoise, and pyrite as a representation of their power, whether that was a personal matter, a reference to their social status, or their power in society (Baker).
By adorning my teeth with shiny gems, I understood this feeling of sudden power over my own self. Everytime I speak with someone, I draw attention to my smile, one of my insecurities. The anticipation of someone asking a question about my teeth makes my heart race. I feel excitement, yet I’m terrified of shining a light on my smile. This rush is followed by a feeling of power: even though I am out of my comfort zone, I chose to put myself there, exerting power over myself. After getting them done, the people around me began to recognize my smile. While exchanging conversation with strangers at parties, I’ve been asked a couple of times, “Are those diamonds on your teeth? How did you get them done?” While visiting my grandma, she caught a glimpse of them while we talked during tea time. When she asked about them, I was scared she would scold me, as she usually did when I got a new tattoo. But unexpectedly, she said they made my smile look beautiful, making my heart full. My grandma’s approval is the only thing I need when trying new things.
As the Mayans did, rappers and celebrities wear tooth gems to compliment their style, enhance their look, and show off their riches. Grills and tooth gems, depending on their authenticity, may reach high prices, meaning that the flashier the smile, the more successful the person is, as they can afford the luxury of tooth decor. Artists like Jay-Z, Lil Yachty, or A$AP Rocky are often seen boasting their successes by wearing sumptuous tooth decor. Simple tooth gem designs are cheaper than other tooth decor. Tooth gems don’t include gold, making them far more accessible than grills or gold caps. This allows a larger demographic of people to access the world of tooth decor. Celebrities such as Hailey Beiber, Bella Hadid, and Kendall Jenner have recently been seen flashing a tooth gem or two, sticking to their well-known minimalistic, “clean girl” aesthetics which they are recognized for. This trend is attainable by many for a couple of reasons: the procedure is less time-consuming, less expensive, and requires less commitment.
Personally, I went into the world of tooth gems with no previous knowledge, yet highly influenced by tooth gem aficionada, ROSALÍA. I was surprised to find out that, unlike grills or gold caps, the procedure took only fifteen minutes and used the same bonding process as braces, meaning that they could be easily removed by a professional. The first time I was inspired to get tooth gems was when, while scrolling on Instagram, I saw some artists from my home city, Santiago, Chile, wearing them. I knew American artists were accustomed to tooth decor, but when I saw local people who were a similar demographic to me wearing them, I was attracted to the idea of having some myself. I spent a long time as a teenager hiding my smile, it was time to start showing it off.
Whether you want to step out of your comfort zone by trying something new, further enhance your appearance by adding some bling, or simply want to show off your smile, tooth gems are versatile, working for every occasion possible. The influence celebrities’ styles have upon us is undeniable, but it’s also hard to ignore tooth gems’ appeal. From hiding my smile to showing it off, tooth gems allowed me to step out of my comfort zone as well as helping me build a stronger confidence. If you want to stand out in a room full of plain, regular smiles, amp up your own with a set of shiny tooth gems.