Mouth Grills and Their Consequences

With hip-hop music's popularity in mainstream culture, the fashions exhibited by hip-hop artists are widely imitated by fans of the genre. One of these fashion elements is called the mouth grill, a form of jewelry that is worn over the teeth. Wearing mouth grills, however, can lead to consequences involving oral health and hygiene.

Grills

• Mouth grills are metal jewelry that fit on top of the teeth. Grills are usually removable, although they can also be permanently affixed to teeth. Typically made of gold, silver or platinum, mouth grills are often implanted with diamonds or other precious stones. Depending on the type of materials used, grills can vary in price, with more elaborate grills costing thousands of dollars. The use of mouth grills only became popularized in the mid-2000s. For these reasons, the long-term consequences of wearing mouth grills are not definitively known.

Case Study

• In 2007, Drs. William Hollowell and Noel Childers of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry published a case study documenting "the oral and dental manifestations" that occurred in a 16-year-old male who regularly wore a mouth grill. The case study noted the patient's "rampant anterior decay in an oral cavity that had previously been cavity-free on all earlier regular hygiene visits." The grill was seen as the major contributing factor to the teen's dental issues.

Dental Hygiene

• On its website, the American Dental Association (ADA) notes that as of the date of publication there were no studies indicating mouth grills are harmful to the mouth --- although the ADA also points out there are also no studies that proved the safety of mouth grills. Some low-end grills are made from non-precious metals can can cause allergic reactions in some people. The ADA cautions anyone wearing a mouth grill to be especially vigilant in brushing and flossing. The ADA further advises anyone wearing removable grills to limit the amount of time they are worn and to remove the grill before eating.

Potential Consequences

• According to the ADA, food and other debris can easily become trapped between the teeth and the grill. This can allow bacteria to collect, which will produce acids. These acids can then contribute to tooth decay and damage gum tissue. Another negative side effect of this bacteria can be bad breath. Mouth grills may also irritate the oral tissue on the inside of the mouth, potentially causing sores and ulcers in the mouth. Grills may also be abrasive to tooth enamel on opposing teeth, serving to wear the enamel on those teeth away.