I think we can all agree that most of us desire to have a dazzling white smile and an enviable set of teeth. Case in point, the amount spent globally in the cosmetic dentistry market is expected to reach well over 30 billion dollars by the year 2026.
Millions of people resort to a variety of procedures and techniques such as teeth whitening, orthodontics, veneers, crowns, etc., to improve their picture-ready smile.
One of the most recent and curious developments in the world of dental cosmetics was born in the world of hip-hop culture, where it gradually gained in popularity until it began to spill over onto the mainstream.
Over the last few decades, people have become more willing to pay significant sums of money to have dazzling smiles that dazzle not from the whiteness or natural symmetry of the teeth, but rather because they flaunt precious gemstones.
I’m talking, of course, about grills / grillz.
These lavish dental jewelry pieces, which are made out of gold, silver, or platinum and are diamond-encrusted or inlaid with other precious stones, are fixed to the wearer’s teeth using dental resins similar to those used in other orthodontic procedures.
And while plenty of evidence points to grills having a detrimental effect on dental health, many simply don’t care. But, the most frequently asked question among people who are considering joining the world of dental grills is
Table of Contents
Do Grills Make Your Breath Stink?
Yes. Grills can make your breath stink. Once the grills are in your mouth they make it difficult for you to properly clean your teeth. It gives food particles more places to get stuck and this will lead to bad breath.
Why Do Grills Give You Bad Breath?
Bad breath is caused by uncontrolled bacterial growth inside the mouth and throat. Bacteria that produce foul-smelling odors can grow and reproduce for a variety of reasons, but most of these can be boiled down to a lack of hygiene.
And that is precisely how grills contribute to bad breath.
Grills make it significantly harder for the wearer to maintain good oral hygiene. Often, bits of leftover food to collect between the teeth and the grills, which then decompose and promote the growth of foul-smelling bacteria. When this happens your breath turns rank and pungent pretty quickly.
Beyond the occasionally trapped morsel of food, grills make regular oral hygiene difficult. It is difficult to brush your teeth when wearing grills, and flossing becomes damned near impossible.
Even if you get temporary removable grills, your oral hygiene is bound to take a hit.
And that is not all, grills can actually hurt your teeth and gum tissue.
How Do Grills Affect Your Teeth and Gums?
Beyond causing you to have bad breath, which can have a very harmful effect on your confidence, self-esteem, and your social relationships, grills can do severe harm to your teeth and gums.
Wearing grills will hurt your ability to take care of your mouth properly. This means that bacterial plaque will proliferate and the risk of cavities will increase significantly.
This, of course, has a direct adverse effect on the health of your gums. Additionally, grills that encroach on the gum line can cause irritation, inflammation, bleeding, gingival recession, or receding gum syndrome.
Additionally, people with grills have a significantly larger chance to experience wear to teeth and even tooth fractures. Grill users also experience temporomandibular joint problems more often, since grills change the shape of your mouth and affect how your teeth line up straight in reference to each other.
Hygiene Tips For Grill Users
If you have made up your mind and feel that you absolutely must wear a grill, there are a few things you can do to help minimize the risk of running into adverse side effects.
Do not get permanent grills, and opt for removable grills instead. This will reduce the negative impact that the grill will have on your mouth and teeth.
If you wish to avoid developing bad breath, you must intensify and strengthen your oral hygiene routine. This means brushing your teeth more often, using a good quality mouthwash, and flossing daily.
Grills should be custom-made by a specialist in dental cosmetics. This means that a professional should make an impression of your mouth, and mold the grill to the exact shape of your teeth and jaw alignment. This ensures that the impact the grills have on your mouth is reduced as much as possible.
Your grill should be made using surgical-grade materials. This includes platinum, silver, and especially gold. Metals like chromium and nickel are considered heavy metals and should never be used.
Visit your dentist more often. Just like braces, grills should be considered a dental modification and, thus, require professional supervision.
In conclusion, if you value having fresh breath at all times having overall good oral health, I would steer clear of grills.
