| Many rappers and
hip-hop artists started wearing decorative teeth covers,
called grills or grillz, several years ago. Their grills
were made of precious metals, such as gold or silver, and
often had jewels for an extra spot of glitter. The rapper
Nelly even had a number 1 hit song called "Grillz" last
year. Many
teenagers have tried to emulate their rap heroes with less
expensive grills, made from do-it-yourself kits or
purchased from jewelers. How safe are they?
"At present there
are no studies that show that grills are harmful to the
mouth-but there are no studies that show that their
long-term wear is safe, either," says the American Dental
Association (ADA). The ADA recommends that people talk to
their dentist before getting dental grills, and that they
limit the amount of time the wear their grills.
The ADA
recommends the following precautions for those who wear
grills:
- Don't attach
grills to teeth with cement. Cement isn't meant for
internal use and can damage teeth and tissues. Grills
should be removable.
- Avoid grills
made from non-precious metals, since they may cause
irritation or metal-allergic reactions.
- Take extra
care brushing and flossing since food may become trapped
between the grill and teeth, causing acid-causing
bacteria to collect. Acids can cause tooth decay and
harm gum tissue. It's best to remove the grill before
eating.
- Make sure
grills fit comfortably, since poor-fitting grills can
irritate surrounding oral tissues and wear away enamel
on opposing teeth.
- Grills should
be cleaned daily to remove plaque bacteria and food
debris-but not with jewelry cleaners or any products
that are dangerous to ingest.
(Source:
www.ada.org/public/topics/grills.asp) |
