Would you wear TOOTH GEMS? Quirky '90s trend of tiny mouth jewelry is set to make a comeback after being re-popularized by Instagram stars and fashion darlings
- Tooth gems are tiny, decorative attachments that are adhered to the teeth with the same adhesive used for brackets for braces
- The trend was big in Sweden in the late '90s and early '00s
- Dental offices, tattoo parlors and salons are offering them in U.S. now
- Experts weigh in on what you need to know if you're considering them
The fashion world's love affair with all things '90s is going strong, with celebrities and models sporting chokers, slip dresses and brown lipsticks whether they're on the red carpet or running errands.
Now, we can add tooth gems to the list of growing '90s and early-'00s nostalgia making a comeback.
The mouth jewelry has been quietly popping up on everyone from Pink to Travis Barker's 9-year-old daughter Alabama Luella Barker, and most recently, the insanely cool Swedish twins Elizabeth and Victoria Lejonhjärta.
Smile! Swedish twins Elizabeth and Victoria Lejonhjärta, 25, showed off the tooth gems they've had since they were 8 on their shared Instagram account @lejonhjerta
Not an open-and-shut case: The Lejonhjärta sisters rarely pose with their mouths open, which could be why we haven't noticed their matching tooth bling in the past
The identical 25-year-old models/writers who share the popular Instagram account @lejonhjerta posted a close-up photo of their mouths last week. Clearly visible in the shot is a tiny gold heart adorning each woman's front right tooth.
'Uh yeah we have them on the same tooth cause we got them when we were 8 cut us some slack plz,' reads the caption.
The post quickly racked up almost 3,200 likes and comments began rolling in, mostly of the 'What is that?' and the 'I want one!' varieties. One commenter clarified for the others, explaining 'It's a gold heart. In Sweden back in the late '90s early '00s lots of girls got them on their teeth. My dentist did mine with laser, told me it would come off after 1-3 years but it's still there, 14 years later!'
Celebrities of all ages have embraced the tooth-gem trend: At left, Pink, 36, rocks two shiny stones while Travis Barker's daughter, Alabama Luella, 9, shows off her second attachment, a peace sign, at right
The tooth-gem trend didn't permeate the United States as heavily as other countries the first time around, but it may be gaining ground now, with companies like the Los Angeles-based Tooth Kandy boasting almost 13,000 followers on Instagram.
Dr. Alina Lane, a dentist at All Smiles Dentistry in Greenwich Village in New York City, said she first heard about tooth gems three years ago. 'I met a girl while traveling abroad who had a gem on her lateral incisor, and I thought it was such a cute way to accessorize her smile,' she told Femail.
Dr. Lane has since been offering the gems at her practice and said that while they still aren't extremely popular here, the typical client who requests one has been a 'fashionable or trendy' female in her twenties or thirties.
We'd certainly include the Lejonhjärta twins in that category: Elizabeth and Victoria have been featured on Vogue.com and Urban Bush Babes for their down-to-earth approach to beauty and their incredible dreadlocks, which they've been growing out since they were three. They also made headlines recently when Drake got a tattoo of their last name on his arm. No word on what he thought of their tooth gems, though.
What's your sign? From a Nike swoosh-inspired symbol (right) to a dainty heart (left), tooth gems come in a range of styles, materials, colors and prices
Money, money, money: A dollar-sign gem edges up two of model/DJ Josephine Pearl Lee's bottom teeth
As for Dr. Lane's other tooth-gem clients? 'All of our customers have been thrilled with the results,' she said. 'It's another way to make your smile more unique and customized. These gems come in a variety of colors, sizes, and even shapes.'
The application process is simple, she added. 'The surface of the tooth is first cleaned with an etch to remove bacteria and saliva, and then a special tooth adhesive is placed. The gem is held in place by a translucent composite material that is hardened with a special light.
The gems themselves can vary in price depending on what they're made out of, and the application fee varies based on the provider. Dr. Lane charges $125 for the first tooth gem application and each additional gem is $25.
When applied correctly, though, Dr. Lane said 'these gems can last for years or longer. The bonding material is very strong, and normal brushing won't remove the gems.' This explains why the Lejonhjärta sisters have had theirs on for so long.
Keeping anything on the tooth for that long, however, worries Dr. Michelle Katz, a board-certified orthodontist at Lavaan Dental Spa in New York City, who cites the need for regular maintenance to make sure nothing has gotten under the gem that could cause problems.
Green with envy: A tooth gem (the one here is just a stick-on) makes matte lips and nails pop
Sweet and subtle: Bold lip colors aren't a mandatory tooth-gem pairing. These women prove just how wearable the trend can be
Dr. Katz also advises staying away from any kind of at-home kit. 'With a dental professional,' she said, 'you know that they're drying the area where it needs to be and making sure that the tooth is clean before putting a material over it.'
With proper maintenance, though, there really isn't a downside to tooth gems, said Dr. Lane.
'They are a very safe and non-permanent way to add a touch of bling to your smile. If you want to have the gem removed at any point, we will polish off the gem and adhesive material without damaging the tooth.'
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