Dental Grillz
By lauriefnp
@lauriefnp (5111)
United States
December 22, 2006 8:44am CST
Has anyone heard of Grillz? They are metal mouthpieces with flashy stones or even jewels that are designed to fit over the teeth. Apparently the trend was started by some popular rap music stars, and it is growing rapidly among teenagers who want to make a fashion statement. There have been reports in the news of some U.S. schools banning them as part of their dress code.
I saw a teenager with them on in the mall yesterday for the first time, and I have to say that he looked ridiculous! The kids are wearing both upper and lower Grillz, so their mouths look like they are wearing gaudy braces. I can remember when I was mortified to have to wear braces- and now they're paying good money to look even worse than the braces ever did.
Dentists have warned of many dangers associated with the use of Grillz, including decay (food gets lodged underneath them), erosion of the dental enamel and teeth, infection from irritation to the tissues of the mouth and gums. Some of these appliances are designed to be removed easily for cleaning. In other cases they are cemented to teeth, and this can also harm the teeth.
What do you think about this? Would you get these yourself, or allow your teenager to get them?
4 people like this
10 responses
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
14 Feb 07
I have seen it in a few rap-videos i think and I agree - it looks ridiculous, plain stupid actually.
I would NEVER get them, however if my teen (when i get one) wants them I guess i wouldn´t stop him or her. If he or she wants to look stupid it is up to him or her...
2 people like this
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
24 Feb 07
he he he, yeah those trends never stops coming!
1 person likes this
@lauriefnp (5111)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Hopefully they'll be out of fashion by the time you have teenagers, or else pray that they are safer for the teeth! I'm sure that when you have kids there will be some new and equally as obnoxious fashion trends for you to argue with them about!
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
14 Feb 07
This ranks right up there with eyeball piercing. People probably feel that if they lose their natural teeth, they can always get false teeth. I can't imagine why people would want to wear these things on their teeth. Gag me.
@lauriefnp (5111)
• United States
23 Feb 07
I did see a discussion here not too long ago about the eye jewels. Now THAT looks even creepier!
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
14 Feb 07
Yuk!!! I have not heard of this, and it sounds gross. I would not permit any child that I had to use them, nor would I. What good is fashion, if it causes health issues with your teath.
1 person likes this
@lauriefnp (5111)
• United States
14 Feb 07
I just saw a commercial on TV the other day where a women in her 50's had them! It looks absolutely ridiculous on anyone, but especially on a middle-aged woman!
1 person likes this
@lauriefnp (5111)
• United States
23 Dec 06
My mom frequently reminds me of some of the stupid fads that my generation came up with. But at least they pretty much involved clothing. We didn't have weird haircuts, dye our hair green & purple, pierce everything that was pierce-able, have multiple tattoos, wear black eyeshadow and nail polish, and even wear dental jewelery that could ruin our teeth. I think that if I had teenagers now I would have to draw some serious lines...
1 person likes this
@lauriefnp (5111)
• United States
9 Jan 07
God Bless you for having the patience to deal with 2 teenagers these days! At least you take the time to argue with them and set boundaries, though. They should be able to grow out of this stage with some guidance and discipline.
@tanaclark (570)
• United States
23 Dec 06
That is very true. I have 2 teenagers 15 and 17 and they are in to the rap music "scene". My son wears his pants below his bottom. Which we often argue about. They listen to the songs that beep throughout most of it because of all the cursing. It is a constant argument about things with them.
1 person likes this
@Ashida (1370)
• United States
8 Jan 07
If you have to get grillz to be cool, you need some real help.
I'm sorry, but they ust seem silly to me. I can understand people in the media getting them -- the are always looking for something to get them noticed -- but I think they are just plain silly.
@lauriefnp (5111)
• United States
9 Jan 07
They are. And it's sad that the kids feel that they have to imitate the "stars" that they idolize. I don't remember being that way as a kid.
@cooldentist (26)
• Ukraine
8 Jan 07
u r right... even tatoos, body piercing are also ridiculous and dangerous. even those also should not be encouraged.
1 person likes this
@lauriefnp (5111)
• United States
9 Jan 07
I agree with you. I know that in my state the kids need parental consent for tattoos and piercings. I just wonder why these parents are allowing it. My parents would have refused and made me wait until I was 18 to make the decision. And if I had even dared to sneak and come home with one, there would have been hell to pay! Then again, I was brought up to respect parental authority, not to challenge it.
1 person likes this
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
22 Dec 06
no i would not get them and no i would not let my kids get them.
1 person likes this
@lauriefnp (5111)
• United States
23 Dec 06
Thank you. Be prepared, because from the sounds of what the news is saying, your kids may be asking for them; you'll have another fight on your hands with the teenagers!
Good luck!
@volschenkh (1043)
• South Africa
23 Dec 06
Never heard of them, but from your description thay sound ridiculous. Where I am from (that is South Africa) people might put gold into their teeth but that is as far as I know. But I would not be surprised if that trend hits SA shores soon. You would not believe it, but the hip-hop culture has a very strong following in SA. I will be looking out for them.
1 person likes this
@missjackie (1358)
• Ypsilanti, Michigan
24 Dec 06
I wouldn't them myself, because I think they are absolutely idiotic and stupid. And no, I would never allow my children to get something like that.
1 person likes this
@lauriefnp (5111)
• United States
25 Dec 06
Thanks for responding. I agree with you 100%.
These kids are just getting more and more bizarre. I'm afraid to see what the next fad will be...
1 person likes this
@uvbnskoold (499)
• Canada
23 Dec 06
I agree... this is so stupid. Not only do the people look retarded but they do carry certain health risks.
People always underestimate that the mouth plays an important role in your health and can cause MANY diseases.
I would not do this myself. I caught my quasi-step-brother mimicking these ridiculous devices with aluminum foil. I quickly told him he looked retarded and that was it.
1 person likes this
@lauriefnp (5111)
• United States
23 Dec 06
They must be getting popular if a kid was mimicking them with foil. It's only a matter of time before he wants to buy the real thing. And we all thought that the tattoos and the piercing craze were as bad as it was going to get. These kids won't be happy until they're all walking around looking like a bunch of freaks.
And it's so hard to get the teen-aged mentality to understand health risks and the long-term implications of their decisions and actions, isn't it?
1 person likes this
